Police Crackdown on Offenders WELCOME IT WAS LONG OVERDUE
The Police holding people to account for breaching safety protocols is welcome.
The crackdown is long overdue. It’s abundantly clear that some of us have adopted the rebel approach,
They have deliberately resisted respecting the safety measures because they do not believe the virus is a killer and are treating it like flu.
They are basing it on conspiracy theories and misinterpretation of biblical scriptures and Christianian doctrines.
As a result of their misleading and irresponsible action the highly contagious and deadly Delta variant is spreading faster than ever before, infecting and killing more Fijians.
It required drastic action by the powers that be to arrrest the increase of positive cases.
Now the Police have sprung into action in a positive move.
The hardline approach will send the right message that the authorities mean business and will not tolerate any violation.
At the rate we are going, we might climb to over 500 positive cases a day if the rebel group fails to change its mentality.
When breaches get out hand the only way to address it is swift remedial action - that’s what the
Police have done.
They have started to pick up people not wearing mask or wearing it in the wrong way.
They will closely monitor any form of mass gathering that is prohibited. There are reports that some people are still holding kava drinking sessions outside their family bubbles.
Unless Police enforce the law the breaches will continue, and more people will get sick and die.
Please be warned that Police have already started stepping up on the enforcement on the mandatory wearing of masks in a public place within a containment zone or lockdown zone.
If you have not heard, seen or read about the order issued by the Ministry of Health it’s reproduced below here for your information.
■ Any person in a public place in a containment zone or lockdown zone must, except with reasonable excuse, wear a face covering in the proper manner.
■ Any driver of a public service vehicle, or passenger in a public service vehicle must, except with reasonable excuse, wear a face covering in the proper manner.
■ Any business in Fiji must, except with reasonable excuse, require its employees and customers to wear face coverings in the proper manner in order to enter the premises of the business.
These requirements however do not apply to;
■ A child who is under the age of 5 years
■ A police officer acting in the course of his or her duty, if performing such duty would be hindered by wearing a face covering; and
■ An emergency responder acting in his or her capacity as an emergency responder, if acting in such capacity would be hindered by wearing a face covering.
■ Any person who does not adhere to the orders will be liable to be charged for the offence of “Failure to Comply with Orders” – Section 69(1) (c) of Public Health, 1935 and Regulations 2 of Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2020
■ Any business operator who does not adhere to the order will be referred to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport.