Bula.
There were five new cases of COVID-19 announced today by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
Here are some stories that made the headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Saturday, May 22.
The big one on PAGE 1 is about:
CONTACT tracing will be intensified in the Suva-Nausori corridor as health officials work to contain a “potential high risk case for transmission”.
REFLECTION
As usual, let’s pause here for a moment to reflect on today’s announcement.
Permanent secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong this afternoon announced five new cases of COVID-19.
Naturally, it will inch out concern. Especially when we consider the fact that our numbers appear to be on the rise daily.
It’s certainly not something we want to hear.
However, it is what it is.
Now the good thing is that these five latest cases had all been under home quarantine following the discovery of a cluster connected to a supermarket in Suva last week.
When you consider this scenario, it makes sense then that there should be a concerted effort placed on getting people to stay home.
Now consider the fact that case 190, announced on Thursday as the lone case for the day, is now coming under extra scrutiny.
Why? Contact tracing has intensified as he is considered a potential high-risk case for transmission. He is a driver for a security company and was working until Wednesday, May 19. The man was part of the Vunimono/Nadali cluster.
Nasinu, on Tuesday. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
The five new cases are members of one household in Muanikoso, Nasinu.
One of them was an employee of the supermarket.
Given the initial announcement by Dr Fong earlier this week that 7888 people in the Suva-Nausori zone were being quarantined, interest will no doubt be on numbers moving forward.
It makes sense then that we should be vigilant.
Dr Fong has been switched on. He’s talked about staying home. He wants us to be proactive. He wants us to be considerate of others who are greatly affected by the pandemic.
This isn’t a fight the ministry can win on its own.
It needs us. It needs the support of the people to turn this pandemic around, and on to its knees.
That can only happen if we are willing to engage.
That will mean adhering to physical distancing rules. It will mean cutting out handshakes and hugs. It will mean sneezing into your elbow or into a tissue and disposing this safely.
Most importantly, it will mean staying home, in our own little bubbles. Do not allow anyone outside of your bubble into your confined safe space.
The virus, as the good doctor continues to tell us, will not move if we do not move.
So if you still have to move out in public, wear your mask. Do not touch your face even if you have an itchy nose.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or use a hand sanitiser.
It may be tough for many of us right now. But let’s engage. Let’s be considerate. Let’s be part of this good fight!
PAGE 2
Long and tough battle
PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji beat COVID-19 before and will do it again, but this time around the battle will be “long” and “tough.”
Desperate need for food
THE National Federation Party’s parliamentary caucus has received over 90 calls from people throughout Viti Levu who are in desperate need of food and medicine as restrictions and unemployment due to Covid-19.
PAGE 3
School reopening
GOVERNMENT has announced that schools will reopen on June 21.
Beheading allegations
THE Republic of Fiji Navy Services handed two crew of a Chinese-owned Fiji flagged fishing vessel to police following allegations of a beheading while the vessel was out at sea.
PAGE 7
Unethical move to circulate pictures
THE daughter of a woman who was brutally attacked by her husband has labelled the circulation online of pictures taken inside the operating theatre of her slashed limb as “a real shame and unethical in every sense”.
Failure to comply
THIRTEEN people of the Muslim League Settlement in Nabua have been convicted for failing to comply with orders.
Police sacrifice
DO not take for granted the sacrifice of police officers, military officers and front liners who do not have the luxury of returning to their families.
Health staff appears in court
A senior Ministry of Health staff in the Western Division appeared before the Lautoka Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with failing to comply with a lawful order and resisting arrest.
Arrests for breaching restrictions
A TOTAL 24 of the 39 arrests between Thursday and today were for drinking kava.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
It’s Saturday! It’s one day a lot of readers look forward to seven pages of letters to the editor. It’s direct, no holds barred stuff. Opinions that matter, and on issues of interest. Check it out.
PEOPLE
In this popular section of the newspaper, read about: ADI VARITEMA
LIKE most Fijians trying to make ends meet amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Adi Varitema has always placed her faith in God to see her through. The Nakorosule, Naitasiri lass became emotional when she told of her struggles, growing up in a family of five siblings and parents living in poverty.
FEATURES/OPINION
We have a list of top writers giving their views on various topics of interest.
Ajay Bhai Amrit
Bula readers, it’s been a very difficult few weeks for most of our citizens and my heartfelt prayers are with you all during this uncertain period of our lives.
Navneet Sharma
A school is a hive of activity. For some teachers, it may often feel that a school is like a scary theme park ride.
Ilaitia B. Tuisawau
Surveillance apps, sanitiser, and space – lots of it. No, I’m not referring to a futuristic dystopian world but the office environment of 2021 and beyond.
Arvind Mani
I ASKED my wife last night what the topic for my next opinion column should be – she replied dryly, “how about something that will not get you in trouble?” Some friends, both in Fiji and the US have offered me similar advice.
Andrew Paris
After a ten-minute boat ride to the main entrance of Suva Harbour, Carl hopped into the water with his board leashed firmly to his right ankle. The first rays of sunlight breaking through behind the tall buildings of Suva began to reflect off the glassy ocean surface.
John Kamea
Today’s prison inmates are “shrewd, smart and influential” people who make life and work quite difficult for members of the prisons service, the former Controller of Prisons, Sony Whiteside, said in his annual report for 1977.
Dr Anoshia McCaig
Gout is a form of arthritis.
Like other types of arthritis, it causes pain and swelling in the joints. Gout develops in some people who chronically have a condition called “hyperuricemia,” meaning high levels of a substance called urate (also known as uric acid) in the blood.
Rajnesh Lingam
THE International Day of Families is observed annually on May 15.
Biman Prasad
FIRST of all, on behalf of the people of Fiji, we in the National Federation Party represent, we say to Australia and New Zealand – thank you.
MOTORING
Check out this regular Saturday section.
ENTERTAINMENT
This is another popular section of the Weekend edition.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about Flying Fijians’ centre Levani Botia in the French rugby competition.
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
I have been getting calls from people who miss the newsprint version. In this lockdown period, you could try reading the newspaper on the e-Edition platform. It’s easy to hook up via mPaisa! You can contact us for details on https://www.fijitimes.com/subscribe/ or you can call Setaita on 7754078, or on 3304111 during office hours, to assist you.
You could also just follow a few steps and read The Fiji Times a few minutes later, live and direct! Here are the simple steps to follow:
1: Log onto www.fijitimes.com 2: Select the SUBSCRIBE tab. 3: Register. 4: Select mPaisa payment option! Try it! It’s a different experience!
