Impact of COVID-19
WE are still clean! That much is confirmed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services which said there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Fiji. For all intents and purposes, that’s about the greatest news we can get in the face of the global pandemic.
Declared that by the World Health Organization, COVID-19 continues to rise around the world, effectively shifting the epicentre from Wuhan in China to Europe.
There is no doubt though about the impact of COVID-19 on Fiji.
As one of the country’s biggest tourism operators declared it lost $15 million in sales as a result of lost business from COVID-19, there are a range of issues that include concern over such things as fuel for instance in the long term.
Managing director of the Rosie Travel Group Tony Whitton maintained a positive mindset, preferring to constructively address issues with his staff and executives.
“We have always had the view that things are going to get worse before they get better and I know you have to stay optimistic and work through those things,” he said.
Mr Whitton said they employed 600 staff members who were involved with their inbound division and the two luxurious resorts on the Mamanuca Group — Likuliku Lagoon and Malolo Island Resort.
“Our view is that we can’t control how the virus is going to operate but we can control how we are going to respond and so the areas we have control over are fixed costs.”
The experienced Fijian hotelier said they were also weighing other options and the most important for the company was to ensure their staff’s employment was secure during trying times.
FMF Foods Ltd managing director Ram Bajekal was reassuring yesterday, urging people not to panic over food supply.
Mr Bajekal made the statement during the Fiji Chamber of Commerce and Industry “Business response to Coronavirus” meeting at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva yesterday.
He was part of the strategic meeting that was attended by the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
By yesterday morning, in its daily situation report, the
WHO stated nine new countries/territories/areas (African Region (7), European Region (1) and Region of Americas (1) had reported cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
A WHO high-level technical mission concluded a visit to Iraq to support the Iraqi Ministry of Health in their COVID-19 prevention and containment measures. The report stated the WHO was working round-the-clock to establish three negative-pressure (contagious respiratory disease isolation) rooms in Baghdad, Erbil and Basra to accommodate patients who might require more sophisticated medical treatment.
We will continue to look to the powers that be to keep Fijians informed about every aspect of the coronavirus and its impact on our nation. Our biggest challenge right now is to be aware as a nation, be proactive, and vigilant.
The powers that be have a challenge to keep the virus out of our country.
That means pulling out all stops to ensure our border security is top notch and vigilant. That means making tough calls that will keep the virus at bay. The people will expect that. Safety, for them and their family, matters in the long run.