THE national government is discouraging nationals and citizens to travel out from the country overseas for a short while then return, because it is high chance for them to bring in COVID-19.
Secretary to Prime Minister Dr. Jimmie Rodgers stated this when speaking during the OPMC talk back show on the national broadcaster-SIBC, Sunday.
He said this announcement or notification is very important and all nationals and citizens must follow.
“One very important thing for those nationals and citizens who wish to travel overseas, we discourage this straight out, try to postponed your travel overseas because for instance if you go out to Australia you have very high chance to catch COVID-19 in Australia or anywhere else you want to go except going to Vanuatu,” he said.
He highlighted that Fiji is a high risk country in the Pacific in terms of having COVID-19 variants-the Delta and Omicron variants.
“Fiji is now getting into a very high risk country again.
“So, I think it is very important that you travel but be very conscience we would recommend that anyone who travels overseas, please plan to stay out for at least two months before you coming back.
“This is because the requirement and incubation period of infection is if you go out this week and come back this week you might bring in COVID-19 without you knowing,” he said.
Dr. Rodgers recommends those who wish to leave the country and will stay out for more than one week to take the COVID-19 booster dose.
“For those of you who will go out and stay for a longer period of time, we recommend you take the booster dose before you go out,” he said.
According to some records for Fiji, those who are vaccinated still survive the variants and those who are not vaccinated have died, especially the old people.
So, Dr Rodgers reiterated that vaccination in the country must be prompt to reach the targeted eligible population.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
Newsroom, Honiara
