‘Deniers’ shun virus swab tests
MEDICAL teams reaching out to COVIDstricken Qauia settlement have met some resistance from those who refused swabbing, were anti vaccine, and ‘virus deniers’ – but Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong says the ministry will “continue to carry out its containment efforts with love”.
“Our motto for Qauia and similar settings is that our containment efforts need to be done with love and compassion,” he 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-safe measures.
“The medical teams are continuing with the containment programs in Qauia.”
Dr Fong said a targeted containment program had been instituted for Qauia settlement in Lami after 75 COVID-19 cases were confirmed there in the 24 hours to 8am on Wednesday.
He said residents needed to know that many in the communities – including the elderly and those living with underlying health conditions and even some young people –– could be killed by the virus.
He said he had advised his medical team on the ground to step back from Qauia if there was some sort of resistance from the villagers but planned on meeting with elders in the community.
“Our positive brothers and sisters need our collective support.
“I want to speak directly to the families living in Qauia and other informal settlements that are under containment protocols – areas that have repeatedly been ravaged by mass transmission at great cost to families and the capacity of our healthcare system.”