Police look at legislation to isolate suspected cases
THE Fiji Police Force is looking at legislation surrounding the isolation of citizens in relation to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho has been meeting Government to discuss how people could be taken into isolation if they were suspected to be carrying COVID-19.
He said while there had been a lot of focus and emphasis on preparations at the operational level, work was also in progress on the legal framework that police would rely on should the need to isolate people arise.
“We are looking at the relevant provisions of all the laws whether the Health Act and the other relevant laws we may need to use to control people when there’s isolation needed — that’s all ongoing now,” he said.
“We’ve been working with the Ministry of Health and discussing things we need to do to prepare.”
Brig-Gen Qiliho said the men and women in the force had been reminded from the outset of the need to ensure they kept themselves in a state of preparedness at all times.
“I have been mentioning in my meetings from when the coronavirus first broke out about the importance of personal hygiene and sanitising.
“All travel and everything that has been mentioned by the Prime Minister has also been conveyed to our officers.
“And we thank the PM and the Government for making decisive targeted decisions in a timely manner which has brought us to the level of preparedness that we have within Government at this time.”