Bula
It’s difficult to stay away from the big issue of the moment right now. So we are sticking with COVID-19 and the media briefing earlier tonight for Page 1.
Here are some stories that made headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Thursday, May 6.
PAGE 1
Water cut vs safety protocols
Dr James Fong says the water cut situation experienced this week in parts of Suva could deter efforts to contain COVID-19. He made the comment as people were seen defying COVID-safety protocols, crowding water carting trucks without masks or social distancing.
Four new cases
Fiji has four new cases of COVID-19.
Case 125 and Case 120
The 53-year-old (case 125) was seen by case 120 – the 25-year-old doctor. He developed respiratory symptoms and the doctor developed symptoms and tested positive on Tuesday.
Case 125 and Case 121
On May 2, case 125 was assessed by case 121 – the 30-year old doctor (case 121). Case 121 tested negative on April 26 and tested positive yesterday.
Lautoka Hospital lockdown
Lautoka Hospital has been locked down and is a tightly-contained, full-time COVID care facility and is closed to the public.
Narere positive case
The 27-year-old in Narere entered quarantine on April 28 as a contact of a Makoi case, she had close contact with another case from Makoi.
A time for reflection perhaps
Before we continue, perhaps we should take some time out to ponder on Dr Fong’s message tonight.
We know where most our cases started. We know that the majority of our local transmissions stemmed from the case in Nadi.
Except for the cases in Ra, we know the links because Dr Fong and his team have been quite transparent and vocal.
The warning tonight that there may be other people out there among us, living with the virus, should be a worry for us all.
The fact that we know that the virus detected in the first case in Ra is genetically identical to other local cases will come as a relief.
However, as Dr Fong pointed out, not yet having a person-person link indicates other chains of transmission have happened, and are possibly ongoing in the community.
There are likely more cases out there linked to this cluster that have not been found.
If this isn’t fair warning, then something must be wrong with us all.
It is really in our best interest to stay at home and to adhere to social distancing rules.
We must not invite others into our homes. We must not gather for family functions. We simply cannot tell who is a carrier.
As the good doctor said, we are truly at war with the virus.
We must be part of the good fight, for ourselves, our loved ones, and for our country.
So let’s play our part. It may be difficult, but we should not shake a hand. Do not hug a friend or relative for now. Sneeze into your elbow or into a tissue and dispose this safely. Do not touch your face when out in public. Wear a mask, and if you can, please just stay home! We have time on our side if we do this now!
PAGE 2
Second school term
THE second school term will begin on May 24.
Learning schedule
LEAVING children without any learning schedule will only cause more stress to teachers when face to face learning resumes in classrooms, says Shadow Minister for Education Ro Teimumu Kepa.
Soldiers who breach protocols
SOLDIERS who breach protocols can lose their job, says Defence Minister Inia Seruiratu.
PAGE 3
PM’s new office complex
INSENSITIVE, shameful and despicable. That was how the CSO Alliance for COVID-19 Humanitarian Response has labelled Government’s $7million plan for a new Prime Minister’s office complex.
Feed people, not build lavish office
WE need to feed people, not build a lavish office for the Prime Minister, says National Federation Party president Pio Tikoduadua.
At war with the virus
WE are at war with COVID-19 and the frontline has just been extended to the Lautoka Hospital. These were the chilling words of Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong as the hospital was locked down yesterday, with more than 400 doctors, nurses, medical workers, and patients contained within.
Potential source point
A FAMILY gathering in Narere, Suva where members of a few different households converged is now potentially the source point of three cases, says Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Check out the letters on Pages 8 and 9.
PEOPLE
This popular section continues to attract readers.
Meet James Louis
ENCOURAGED by his mother-in-law and his wife, James Louis took it upon himself to learn how to make guava jam and to turn his newfound skill into a business.
BACKTRACKS
Check out this section for an indepth look at music.
SPORTS
Check out the Sports pages for the latest news. The big one on the back page is about athletics… check it out!
GET A COPY
There’s a lot to read inside. You’ll have to get a copy though to know what we are talking about. Happy reading!
e-EDITION
If you prefer to read your newspaper via the e-Edition platform, you can do so via mPaisa. It’s easy to hook up. You can contact us for details on https://www.fijitimes.com/subscribe/ or you can call Setaita on 7754078 to assist you. Try it! It’s a different experience!
