Opinion
Letters to the Editor – March 31, 2020
Let’s take heed of advice As we approach the last day of a dreadful March, I urge my fellow Fijians to adhere to advice given by relevant authorities. I must commend the Health Ministry workers,...
Editorial comment – Stay vigilant, proactive
Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete reckons the confirmation of a New Zealand national testing positive to COVID-19 two days after returning from Fiji should be a wake-up call for everyone. We agree. It should be keeping everyone on their toes. That’s if they aren’t already vigilant, and proactive. It’s either standing on your toes or...
30th March
Letters to the Editor – March 30, 2020
Carefree attitude IT seems that since there have been no deaths so far from COVID-19, it has created a perception that only those over 60 and with underlying medical conditions are most vulnerable. The others are safe and will survive the virus. Obviously they are oblivious to what has happened in other countries where young...
Editorial comment – Understand social distancing
It was encouraging to note yesterday that after testing 330 suspected cases, there were no new COVID-19 cases in Fiji. That was the message from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at a press conference in Suva. On top of that positive statement was the fact that the five Fijians living with COVID-19 were all in a...
29th March
Adhere to advice
IT’S official! From 12am today there will be no passenger carriage or movement on inter-island ships throughout Fiji until further notice. That’s the word from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. This is in line with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s announcement...
Letters to the Editor: Sunday March 29, 2020
Support FijiFirst LET’S get behind FijiFirst to support their effort in overcoming this deadly virus. Everyone please be reminded every human is on the edge of life and death and there are glaring examples all around the world. reminded again it’s not bad weather which has a very small life span. We are all equally...
28th March
Letters to the Editor: Saturday March 28, 2020
Viral change With the arrival of the coronavirus on our shores, we have been told to make changes in how we do things; greeting, association in terms of numbers (20), movement through self-isolation etc. Watching the presentation of the supplementary budget last night (Thursday, March 26), my hope was that the virus would also have...
Curfew time and COVID-19
The announcement by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday that a nation-wide curfew would be in force from Monday night reflects the drive to fight COVID-19. Government will be enforcing a nationwide curfew from 10pm to 5am beginning on Monday. Mr Bainimarama said he had continuously warned Government was not afraid to ramp up its...
27th March
Letters to the Editor: Friday March 27, 2020
Tokyo Olympics Finally, relief as the Tokyo Olympic Games has been postponed until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympic Games was postponed by the International Olympic Committee and host country Japan. I’m glad that via yesterday’s The Fiji Times FASANOC and Team Fiji revealed that they will work together to map a...
Fighting COVID-19
As the war against COVID-19 continues around the globe, we are faced with a moment in time that is already sapping energy and confidence. The World Health Organization last night announced two new countries/territories/areas from the Western Pacific Region (1), and Eastern Mediterranean Region (1) had reported cases of COVID-19. In its situation report, it...
26th March
Let’s take heed of advice
THE Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama wasn’t holding back his punches yesterday. He meant business. You could see it in his face. It stood out in his facial expressions during his daily COVID-19 briefing. When it comes down to the business of getting the message of social distancing, and why it is extremely important, there can...
25th March
Letters to the Editor – March 25, 2020
Eliminate COVID-19 risks WHO says that lockdowns are not enough (FT24/3). In an interview with BBC, its executive director Dr Mike Ryan said “what we really need to focus on is finding those who are sick, those who have the virus, and isolate them, find their contacts and isolate them.” Right now our concentration should...
Editorial comment – Let’s heed advice
As the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced our fourth COVID-19 case yesterday, we are reminded to be vigilant. In saying that, a Fijian who has been confined to his room for 60 days in Wuhan, China, has called on Fijians to “listen” and “don’t make the same mistakes we made”. Varun Kapoor is urging Fijians...
