Fong urged to ‘stop being so secretive’

STOP being so secretive and stop downplaying the number of people infected by COVID-19 because we are talking about people’s lives.

This was the urgent plea from Fiji Nurses Association president Dr Alisi Vudiniabola to Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong.

“The FNA is concerned at the way the current wave is being downplayed by the Government since its official confirmation last week,” she said.

“We have not seen a press conference, we have not heard any new directive to stop mass gatherings, et cetera; we have not seen any active interest in the contact tracing or testing to identify the extent of the Omicron infections against the Delta strain.

“I feel that it is very irresponsible of the Government to keep everyone ignorant of the tremendous risks that the current wave has over the people of Fiji — especially the vulnerable groups like our unvaxxed children who are now in schools and our people who work in resorts and businesses.”

Dr Vudiniabola said if Government did not want to close borders, then it would have to immediately put a stop to gatherings and take other more stringent measures.

“The gravity of the situation is not being made clear to the public and Dr Fong has a duty of care to inform the public of the true nature of this outbreak so people can take it seriously.”

Dr Fong said he did not understand what Dr Vudiniabola was saying.

“The positive rate is 34 per cent, how much more clear does that make it,” he said.

Dr Fong said a press statement with minister Faiyaz Koya about stringent measures would be made today.