ALL flights from Papua New Guinea into Fiji need to be cleared by the Health Ministry for COVID-19 threats, says Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong.
He said Australia and New Zealand had closed their borders to PNG after 11 COVID-19 deaths increased the country’s pandemic death toll to 51.
“Currently, the only flight into Fiji is through Indonesian airline Garuda or by chartered flights,” said Dr Fong.
“Garuda-Indonesia is familiar with our stand and requirements for airlines entering Fiji airspace.
“Through this understanding, Garuda-Indonesia did not pick any passengers from PNG last week, when it called into Fiji.” PNG’s 11 new deaths came in the wake of an increase in cases to 5205.
Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete this week called on Fijians living in PNG to return to Fiji if they could.
He said they would announce new COVID protocols specifically for Fijians returning from PNG on a repatriation flight next month.
Dr Waqainabete said some of the new measures included pre-departure, in-flight, off-loading and quarantine protocols.
He said so far Fiji had stopped all travel from PNG until the new measures were put in place.
