Fiji

NZ Rugby has been working alongside Moana Pasifika and Fiji for months to have them included in 2022, and despite a history of false dawns and disappointment it appears that final sign-off could happen in the next few months.

“I've never been more confident,” Aayden Clarke, the CEO of players’ body Pacific Rugby Players (PRP), told Stuff on Tuesday, “simply because of the appetite of New Zealand Rugby and them being genuine about wanting to make this happen, sharing resources, and their approach.

This was announced by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong.

Over the weekend,12,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Fiji, making it the first Pacific island country to get vaccines through the Covax scheme.

Dr Fong said registering now would make work easier for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services while vaccines would continue to arrive in batches into the country.

On Saturday, 12,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Nadi under the multilateral COVAX initiative.

The EU said the arrival of the vaccine kick-started the vaccination campaign in Fiji with those most at risk to receive the first jabs.

The EU's deputy head for the Pacific, Dr Erja Askola, said the delivery was part of a first wave of vaccine arrivals that would continue in the coming months.

Askola said the EU had contributed over $US2.6 billion to this facility to ensure international vaccine solidarity.

About 12,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine was sent to Fiji by the UN Children's Fund as part of the World Health Organisation's COVAX initiative.

The Fiji government said while the vaccine cost them $US30 million, AstraZeneca was ideal for the country's storage capability.

At least 600,000 Fijians need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to ensure the country is protected against infection, the government said.

It said about 6,000 front-line and essential workers would be the first to receive the jabs

Agreeing in unison on the initiative's timeliness, the respective governments and its people all see the urgent need to educate youths and individuals on online safety etiquettes.   

‘I Am Digital’ is a new social media online safety education campaign for Save the Children and Facebook, uniquely tailored for audiences in the Pacific Islands. The high-profile campaign is designed to help educate and empower Pacific Island teenagers and young people to have safer and more positive online experiences.

The Health Ministry says a 22-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman are the latest cases.

The ministry said the man had arrived in the country from Durban, South Africa, and had transited through Auckland.

He returned a positive result during routine quarantine testing while undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine in a government designated border quarantine facility in Nadi.

The ministry said the man currently has no symptoms, and further investigations are underway to determine whether this is a historical case of the coronavirus.

Frank Bainimarama said he was saddened at the loss of his friend and Pacific iconic leader.

Bainimarama said there has been a great mourning across PNG and the Pacific since the passing of the 'Grand Chief'.

He said Sir Michael was an 'architect of regional unity' who would live on in the hearts of the Pacific people.

Bainimarama said Fiji had lost a dear friend as Sir Michael was more than PNG's founding father,

The case is a 30-year-old man, who travelled from Manila, Philippines, transiting through Hong Kong, arriving in Nadi on flight FJ1394 on 18 February.

He returned a weak positive result during routine testing while undergoing mandatory 14-day quarantine in a government designated border quarantine facility in Nadi.

The leaders said they saw minimal, if any impact, by departing the region's primary body.

Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says Micronesia must stand in solidarity with their Pacific counterparts.

The standoff stemmed from Micronesia's frustration at its candidate no getting the sceretary-general's position at the Forum Secretariat following what it called a 'gentlemen's agreement' the subregion would get the top job at PIFS.

Former Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna was elected to replace Papua New Guinea's Dame Meg Taylor last month.

The repatriation flights are from Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.

MEIDECC Chief Executive Officer, Paula Ma’u said the repatriates will be quarantined at Tanoa International Hotel and Makeke Camp in Vaini.

Passengers on the flight from Fiji include Tongan nationals who were in India, Friendly Island Shipping Agency crew members, Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and students who studied abroad.

All the passengers have completed quarantine requirements in Fiji and are waiting return to Tonga.