Social media images of rugby 7 legend Waisale Serevi and his family on a flight from Nadi to the United States attracted widespread attention. Many questioned previous announcements that Fiji’s borders were closed to all forms of travel.
When asked, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. James Fong that the ministry would only allow travel outside the border if medical resources were not used.
Dr. Fong said they would work to allow people who have had to leave Fiji to travel as it would ease pressure on efforts to contain the virus.
“I’m trying to find a fair way for anyone who goes out, but the virus keeps interfering with those efforts,” he said.
“Whatever comes to me, I can approve it if it doesn’t require the use of medical resources.”
When asked about members of a film production team recently allowed to travel to the country, Dr. Fong that her trip has already been approved by the COVID Risk Mitigation Taskforce (CRMT).
CRMT approval for this program has already been granted and they brought in their own medical resources to sort themselves out. “
Last Tuesday, Dr. Fong informed a press conference that Fiji would not be accepting passengers from any country as of April 22nd.
He said the only exceptions are Fijians traveling for medical procedures and those with special permission from the Department of Health.
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