PM IMPOSES CURFEW Tough call
PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has announced a nationwide curfew from 10pm to 5am beginning Monday.
He said despite repeated warnings, Fijians were not taking the COVID-19 crisis seriously with unnecessary travel and socialising rife around the country.
His warning also came in the wake of amendments to the Public Health Act which now allowed for people to be fined up to $10,000, imprisoned for up to five years or both to prevent the spread of any infectious disease.
Meanwhile, Lautoka shoppers were also warned yesterday that military and police officers would take strong measures against anyone caught violating COVID-19 advisories and directives issued by Government.
GOVERNMENT has enforced a nationwide curfew from 10pm to 5am beginning on Monday.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said he had continuously warned Government was not afraid to ramp up its containment measures against the COVID-19 pandemic if it felt the Fijian public was not taking the crisis seriously. The curfew, he said, was just one of the many measures they would be implementing.
Fiji has five confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“When it comes to the type of activities and behaviours that we’ve discouraged to stop the spread of coronavirus –– like nonessential travel, close contact, and large gatherings –– too many Fijians
seem to think that when the sun goes down, the rules stop,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“That’s why I’m also announcing a new nationwide curfew from 10pm to 5am, every night, everywhere in Fiji. This will take effect from this Monday evening the 30th of March.
“There’s far too much risk of socialising and unnecessary travel at these hours. If you’re out during these hours, unless it’s for work or another life-sustaining purpose, the police will direct you straight home.”
Following the confirmation of Fiji’s first COVID-19 case in Lautoka, Government directed a total lockdown of the Sugar City.
Mr Bainimarama said the measures implemented nationally and in Lautoka as part of containment efforts against COVID-19 were saving lives.
“And we didn’t waste any time going around to every political party in the country asking for permission to put them into effect. We stepped up and got the job done, because the job needed to be done now.”
Meanwhile, all inter-island passenger shipping will be stopped from tomorrow as part of Government’s containment efforts.