PM’s visit to Frontline in COVID-19 war A major Morale boost For workers
There was a glint in the eyes of frontline workers on Wednesday when Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama visited them and thanked them for the fantastic job they were doing.
They have been working in shifts backed by the disciplined forces since March to ensure that we contain COVID-19 and stop the spread of the killer virus in the community. And we have done it, thanks for their dedication, sacrifice, professionalism and duty of care.
Many of them have been away from their families and loved ones for long periods to maintain safety and security at the border including quarantine centres. The visit by Mr Bainimarama shows that the Government appreciates their service. He thanked them and rightly told them they were more than “healthcare heroes”, assuring them that the entire nation was behind them all the way.
He said they were mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends and neighbours and had given up their time for the sake of people’s safety.
This was his second visit and reinforced our genuine feeling and appreciation for the selfless act of our frontline staff. Not only are they away from their families they are exposed to high risks of infection. A Fijian citizen returning from India has just tested positive. The person obviously had contacts with a number of people at the border arrival area and the quarantine centre before the test. This and other previous cases demonstrate the inherent danger that these frontline workers face every time a planeload of passengers arrives at Nadi. From the airport to the quarantine centres to hospital isolation units, frontline workers play a crucial role.
A nurse was tested positive sometime ago despite the protective gear. Again it shows this is risky and dangerous work. It is certainly not for the faint-hearted.
Today we join the PM and pay tribute to all our frontline workers. You are doing an excellent job in keeping the rest of the country safe from COVID-19 – enabling our children to continue to go to school, the other workers to keep working and generally to return to normal. But we know this is a new normal and we still have to follow the precautions like social distancing and hand washing.
We are streaks ahead of other countries in containing COVID-19 but that does not mean we have to become complacent. Maintaining our current restrictions and checks must continue until science can tell us that it is now safe to relax the rules.
The work that frontline workers do is therefore essential to our future progress. We pray for their safety and that of their families and hope that God, who is in control, will protect them and bless them.