The Fiji Times has been a reliable source of news, entertainment and history to our readers over the years. A major event this year that has changed the way we do things in Fiji and other countries in the world is COVID- 19.
When this edition went to press on Thursday there had been 46,936 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 47,006 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 29,067 recoveries.
The country recorded its first COVID- 19 case this year in April after a soldier who contracted COVID-19 at a quarantine facility interacted with a 53-year-old maid who tested positive.
The current outbreak in the country resulted in the establishment of containment zones, quarantine areas, lock downs, curfews, business shutdowns, border movement restriction and school closures.
Many workers in this country have been left on reduced hours, reduced wage rates and have even lost their sources of livelihood during this pandemic.
It has been a depressing journey and many families are struggling to put food on the table. There have now been 504 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 502 during the outbreak that started in April.
Permanent secretary for Health Doctor James Fong said as of August 31, 560,336 adults in Fiji had received their first dose of the vaccine and 275,072 have received their second doses.
We can only hope that as more Fijians are vaccinated Fiji will return to some form of normalcy, our borders will open, students will return to school, universities will open, churches will open, and businesses will resume.
It is indeed something we all look forward to.
