As many as 508 Lauans are currently stranded on Viti Levu from April when the second wave of COVID-19 began, eagerly awaiting the opening of inter-island travel to return home.
Lau Provincial COVID-19 Response Team chairman Dr Esther Williams said in their talks with the Ministry of Health they had been advised to achieve 100 per cent vaccination before travel to and out of the island could resume.
Speaking during the Bula ko Lau virtual discussion this week, Dr Williams said the province had set up its own working committees to work on strategies towards preventing the spread of the vaccine on the island once domestic borders reopened.
In the meantime, Dr Williams said plans were in progress to set up a financial committee to look into addressing the needs of stranded travellers from the island on Viti Levu and to meet the needs of villagers in Lau for masks and other safety equipment.
While discussing the province’s Standard Operating Procedures, Noa Nagera told the virtual panel that the SOP contained checklists and advisories for those intending to travel once domestic borders reopened.
Also contributing to the virtual discussion, Lau Provincial Council chairman Alipate Naiorosui appealed to Lauans in the urban centres to encourage their relatives in the province to get vaccinated for their own safety.
Mr Naiorosui said the council was working closely with the Ministry of Health and line ministries towards the probable reopening of borders in October if vaccination targets were achieved in the province and the country.
