Health, Qauia Talk Jab
Taskforce team struggling to get Qauia residents vaccinated.
The Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete, said they were carrying out discussions with Qauia Settlement leaders and residents on the anti-vax mob.
As cases in COVID-19 positive cases in the settlement rise – as evident in the Wednesday update – the challenge for health officials was getting more residents swabbed and tested for the virus.
Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong said: “Those who are misinformed about COVID, especially in relation to swab tests and vaccination need to be supported.
“All our positive cases, especially in densely populated communities need a lot of support to help them prevent transmission to others.
“We have frontliners engaging with community leaders in these places to harness more support for all our COVID-19 safe measures. The medical teams are continuing with the containment programmes in Qauia.
“The other challenge is getting the residence to adhere to COVID-19 safe protocols.”
Republic of Fiji Military Forces personnel and Police officers are monitoring the area.
Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu said: “It is sad to see that knowing people are to be contained yet they continue to move around.
“It is a difficult situation and that is why we keep asking people in containment areas to be responsible and know that if they continue to move around, they will continue to spread this virus and expose everyone to the virus.”
Qauia resident Litea Adi said: “I do not know why they are doing this.
“People have closed their homes and are not letting people in and some have run away.”
Ms Adi said this was selfish.