Fiji

Tonga is part of PacWastePlus meeting in Fiji

Representing the Kingdom, is Chief Environmentalist and Head of the Waste Management Unit at the Environment in Nuku’alofa, Mafile’o Ongosia Masi.

The PacWaste Plus project seeks to work with Countries to enhance waste management activities.

The meeting is organized by SPREP, that will seek to not only inform all participating countries of the project goals and objectives, but to involve you in the determination of specific actions to be included in the project and delivered ‘on-ground’ in various countries throughout the region.

Chinese embassy in Suva hits out at Fiji govt over border closure

Under new measures to contain the Wuhan coronavirus, the Fiji government has banned non-citizens who have been in mainland China in the past 14 days from entering.

However, in a statement, the Chinese embassy said Beijing had taken rigourous containment measures, and there was no need for measures that interfered with travel and trade.

It hoped the Fiji government would minimise the negative impact on the movement of people as much as possible.

Wuhan coronavirus: Fiji awaits test results from 2 suspected cases

The patients, who are both Fiji citizens, are symptomatic and authorities wore full protection as an ambulance rushed the two into isolation at Nadi Hospital from a local health centre where they had sought treatment after arriving from China on Monday.

The samples are being sent to a WHO 'Collaborating Centre' reference laboratory in Melbourne, Fiji's Ministry of Health said.

Coronavirus: Two in Fiji isolated with 'mild' symptoms

The Fiji citizens arrived in Nadi from the Chinese city of Guangdong on Monday and are being held at Nadi Hospital.

Samples have been sent to Melbourne for laboratory testing, and the ministry said it was managing close contacts of the patients.

The health ministry said there had been no confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, which has killed more than 400 people in China.

"The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is monitoring the developing situation and will provide updates regularly to the public," it said in a statement.

Fiji, Samoa 7s fail to fire in Hamilton

New Zealand did the double on home soil as the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens won the men's and women's titles to extend their respective leads atop the overall World Series standings.

Fiji were attempting to win a third straight title in Hamilton but, after opening day wins against Samoa (19-12) and Australia (19-12), Gareth Baber's side were upset by Argentina 26-10 in their final round robin clash and were denied a place in the knockout rounds on points differential.

Cyclone Tino now a Category two storm

Disaster authorities in Fiji are expecting Cyclone Tino to make landfall at Udu Point, the northernmost part of Vanua Levu, before midnight.

The Category two Cyclone continues to strengthen as it moves Southeast at 28km/hr.

The director of the Fiji Disaster Management Office said they have pre-positioned some relief supplies with the disaster commissioner for the Northern Division that can be used as soon as the cyclone passes over Vanua Levu.

Evacuation centres opened as Cyclone Tino aims for Fiji, Tonga

Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Tonga with the capital, Nuku'alofa, sitting directly in Tino's path.

The cyclone, which was upgraded to a category one early on Friday morning, was strengthening as it sat the south of Fiji's western Rotuma island, the Fiji Meteorological Service said.

But it was gathering strength as it moved southeast, where it was heading straight for Fiji's second-largest island, Vanua Levu.

Warnings had been issued for much of the country, with torrential rain, strong winds, and damaging swells forecast.

Cyclone likely to form on Thursday, Fiji in path

The system is forecast to swerve south of Rotuma tonight, before tracking close to a major town, Labasa, tomorrow as a category one or two cyclone.

The Fiji Meteorological Service said it was then likely to move close to Tonga's main islands as a category two over the weekend.

Heavy wind and rain warnings are now in force for much of Fiji, with coastal flooding also forecast for Rotuma.

     

Storm approaching Fiji likely to be cyclone by midday Thursday

As of Wednesday afternoon, the disturbance was about 700km west of Rotuma and moving east.

Fiji Meteorological Service director Misa Funaki said people, especially in the maritime islands, were being warned to expect rough seas, heavy rain and strengthening winds.

"As [of Wednesday afternoon], it is still located about 1000km northwest of Nadi, it is slowly moving eastwards. Its current projections are projecting for it to head towards Vanua Levu, and we are looking at around Friday for this to occur.

Fiji lifts measles emergency measure banning mass gatherings

The government said the removal of the ban comes after serious consideration by the National Measles Taskforce.

Since the outbreak, which has seen 28 confirmed measles cases, was declared in November, around 459,000 people have been immunised across the country.

The government said while new cases continue to be reported in the Central Division, the number of new cases per week has decreased.

However it said despite the advisory against gatherings being lifted members of the public are still being urged to take precautions and to make sure they get vaccinated.