Fiji enforces COVID-19 fines starting today [1]
Monday, January 10, 2022 - 20:50
On the spot fines for failure to abide by COVID-19 protocols will be issued in Fiji to individuals and businesses, starting today, January 10. Fines include $250 for not wearing a face mask in required settings, Fiji’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport said.
Enforcement measures have been made by authorities to help limit the spread of COVID-19 variants – Omicron and Delta, present in communities, and to lessen the impact on the country’s health system.
They include:
- Businesses that don’t maintain records and have a QR Code available for scans can be fined $1,000 (the business and the official responsible will also get charged $250).
- Failure to check symptoms and temperatures will result in a $250 fine for individuals and $1,000 fine for businesses.
- High risk businesses failing to verify vaccination status will face $1,000, whilst the official responsible for undertaking that task or in-charge of the premises at the time will be fined $250.
- Public Service Vehicles not complying with capacity requirements will face the following fines:
- Driver - $100
- Passenger - $100
- Permit holder or company - $1,000
- In addition, the permit holder or company can face $4,000 fine for not following the Protocol for Land Transport Services.
- Failure to comply with the relevant Protocols will lead to fines of up to $4,000.
- A business that is issued one (1) Infringement Notice, could face double the fine for the second notice, together with closure of business.
After Fiji reached a high COVID-19 vaccination rate, it re-opened its border to fully vaccinated international travellers in December to help revive its economy after closing for nearly two years due to the pandemic.
The country is now experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the fast spreading Omicron variant.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said while Omicron may be mild for nearly everyone it infects, it's faster rate of transmission means it may not be mild for the health system.
“Because even if the percentage of people who require hospitalization due to COVID-19 may be lower, as also seen in other countries, those who are unvaccinated and those with underlying health conditions who are not boosted may still suffer severe disease and burden our health system.”
Over 92% of Fiji's adult population are fully vaccinated.