Author: Sonal Shivangni

The Deans and Senior Management Team met yesterday morning to discuss the way forward for the University of Fiji in light of the 14 day lockdown in Nadi and Lautoka and the Hon. Prime Minister’s Covid-19 guidelines to mitigate any further risks to community health in Fiji.

Accordingly, from today (April 21), the University will be implementing the following regime for the safety of its staff and students without risking its core business, namely, education.

The University of Fiji: 15-Point Advisory.

1. The University will be closed to students during the current study break unless they are involved in trimester programmes or postgraduate study.
2. The maximum number of people (staff and students) permitted on Samabula and Saweni Campuses at any one time will be 100.
3. Deans will decide for their own Schools, in consultation with the Registrar’s Office, how their numbers are to be organised.
4. All staff and students entering the University will register at the security booths at the entrance of both campuses so that the numbers can be monitored.
5. Students and Staff with smartphones are requested to download the Fiji Care App which will be checked by security at the Samabula and Saweni gates.
6. Students and staff entering the University (both campuses and PC Labs) shall wear masks.
7. Staff and students on campuses and in PC Labs will observe social distancing according to the guidelines (2 metres) which will be monitored by security at each facility.
8. PC Labs outside the campuses around Viti Levu and in Labasa will remain open.
9. All academic staff should contact their Deans and School Administrators regarding their presence on the campuses.
10. All administrative and support staff should contact their section heads for duties and availability during this period.
11. All student enquiries about campus access and connectivity should be made to the Registrar.
12. All student enquiries about lectures should be made to the respective Deans and School Administrators.
13. The Library will remain open on both campuses and provide virtual library services via email to those not on campus.
14. BemaCino at Samabula Campus and the Saweni Campus Cafeteria will remain open but the furniture will be re-arranged to comply with social distance guidelines.
15. All lectures will be delivered in the virtual classroom (interactive) mode or as arranged by individual Schools.

Semester 1 will resume on Monday 26th April mainly in the virtual mode unless otherwise advised by the Schools for specific programmes or courses.

The University of Fiji Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem has directed students and staff of the University to refrain from travelling to its campuses in Saweni and Samabula until further notice.

This is to ensure that all contingencies are met in light of the Government’s updates on Covid-19 restrictions in Nadi and Lautoka and for schools.

The University of Fiji administrators are closely monitoring the announcements made by the Prime Minister and the Health Ministry before further advising staff and students of any developments.

From this week, all UniFiji classes will be conducted through online virtual classrooms which the University had established in 2020 during the first lockdown.

Professor Shameem said virtual classrooms allowed the University to continue with learning and teaching with very little extra effort as the university’s IT system had been set up already to cope with exactly such an eventuality.

“We had hoped for the best but, at the same time, prepared for the worst in case Fiji had to face Covid-19 community transmission as has happened in other countries leading to interruptions in learning,” she said.

“Lecturers will be able to meet their students and conduct their classes online through the method we have adopted called ‘Face to Face Online’. No student will be disadvantaged this way as even tests and assessments will be conducted online if the lockdown persists,” Professor Shameem said.

She said the University was also able to continue its partnership with internet providers to ensure the costs of connectivity would be managed prudently.

‘While it is unfortunate that Covid-19 has persisted beyond expectation, nevertheless the University of Fiji is well prepared to continue with its core business of teaching, research and learning without pause’, Professor Shameem said.

April 19, 2021

Greetings Everyone. All our Campuses will be closed today for business as directed from Ministry of Health.

STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has continued to run COVID-19 tests on the first- and second-generation contacts identified through its contact tracing effort stemming from the border quarantine case announced yesterday.

As of early this morning, one of those first-generation contacts, a 53-year-old woman, has registered a positive COVID-19 test result. This woman worked in a border quarantine facility, but has since entered public spaces. She resides in Nadi, with a travel history in Nadi and Lautoka.

All members of her household have already been entered into quarantine. We are awaiting the results of their COVID-19 tests.

To aid rapid contact tracing and reduce the likelihood of further transmission, we are announcing a lockdown of the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area, starting from 4am this morning.

We are defining the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area as the area spanning from Momi Junction and the Mulomulo Post bearing towards Sigatoka, to Nacilau, Vakabuli, and the Waiwai crossing bearing towards Ba.

Passenger travel out of this area has been halted by road, air, and sea. Passenger travel into the area will be permitted over the next 24 hours for Fijians who reside within the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area. However, those allowed to enter the area must head straight home and will not be allowed to come out of the lockdown area.

Within the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area, effective immediately, the Fiji Police Force is enforcing a 24-hour curfew. All Fijians should stay home. Public gatherings should not happen. No services should run except for essential medical services. Later today, an announcement will cover when essential businesses, including banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, and other essential service providers, may safely resume operation with strict physical distancing enforced. For now, all schools and businesses will be closed.

For the rest of Fiji, schools, workplaces, businesses and inter-island shipping services may remain open. However, we encourage people to avoid non-essential travel and large gatherings. Outside of the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area, curfew hours will remain from 11pm to 4am.

We will also be re-activating fever clinics within the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area to keep people with fevers away from vulnerable people who visit Health Centres and into separate, dedicated spaces specially designed to effectively identify possible COVID-19 cases.

It is vital that all Fijians adhere to the practices of good handwashing, strict physical distancing, where possible, and mask-wearing in public spaces. If you are feeling unwell, stay home and report your symptoms to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is more equipped than we have ever been to contain the spread of the virus together. We have seen the proven impact that health restrictions have had on cutting chains of transmission. By relying on these measures and adhering to the advice from relevant authorities, we can save lives and keep Fiji safe.

Thank you.