Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says they are working to establish a full-time quarantine facility in Fiji for any individuals suspected of carrying the Novel Coronavirus.
Bainimarama says there are no cases of coronavirus in Fiji.
He says Fiji has continued its strengthened screening at all Asian ports of entry adding that every passenger travelling to Fiji from Hong Kong and Singapore is being met by health officers who are checking health declaration forms.
He says these passengers are also being required to undergo thermal screening prior to boarding.
Bainimarama says from tomorrow, at all Asian ports, any passengers who have recently travelled to the Hubei Province in China will require a medical declaration before being accepted on a Fiji Airways flight.
He adds they will be rolling out a health declaration form that every traveller to Fiji, by air or sea, will be required to complete before they will be allowed into the country.
Bainimarama further adds with the guidance of the world’s leading health organisation, Fiji is pursuing the proven, medically-sound course of action adding in doing so, they are anticipating and actively preparing for a case of the coronavirus in the country.
He says contingency plans are in place at all major health facilities.
The Prime Minister adds our hospitals are stocking up on the necessary supplies and are ready to aggressively identify, treat, investigate and contain the virus if it arrives in the country.
He has also confirmed that the Fijian students studying in Wuhan, China are safe and healthy.
Bainimarama says if and when required, they will work with their partners to evacuate the students from Wuhan and upon leaving China, those students will be quarantined in Fiji.
He says it remains vital that Fijians practice good hygiene, wash their hands, cover their mouth and nose if they cough or sneeze and report to the nearest health facility if they feel unwell.
Meanwhile, the virus has spread across China and to at least 16 countries globally, including Thailand, France, the US and Australia.
The BBC reports more than 130 people have died in China and close to 6,000 have been infected.
