Fiji has reopened its international borders after Covid-19 closed them more than 18 months ago.
From today, only fully vaccinated diplomats, returning Fijian residents, permit holders and those approved by the Covid-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce will be allowed in.
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said fully vaccinated tourists from travel partners including New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the United States can enter Fiji from 1 December.
Nadi International Airport in Fiji. Photo: Supplied/Fiji Airports
Fiji's Health Ministry said the quarantine protocols to support international travel have been "adjusted to take into account the increasing protection gained by having fully vaccinated persons travelling with other vaccinated persons to highly vaccinated destinations."
"This will involve less stringent conditions with more priority given to the testing protocols that ensure early identification and isolation of positive travellers," said Health Secretary James Fong.
"From the 11th of November, we will be transitioning Border Quarantine Protocols to Border Risk Reduction Protocol for all travellers coming in from Travel Partner Countries.
"This will involve a three-day stay in a hotel with a test to be done on day 2. A negative result will allow for discharge into the community on day 3.
"From the 11th of November, incoming travel will be restricted to diplomats, returning residents, permit holders and those approved by the Covid-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce.
"Our Border Risk Reduction Protocol Processes will be trailed during this time and further refined in preparation for December 1st when tourists can start arriving in Fiji," Dr Fong said.
Approvals to home quarantine will be extremely limited during this pilot phase, he said.
Dr Fong said changes to domestic travel quarantine protocols will be announced on Friday once the vaccination coverage data in Vanua Levu and some of the maritime islands are received by the ministry.
Four more deaths
Four people have died from Covid-19 in Fiji and there are 58 new cases reported since Tuesday.
This brings the total number of active cases to 813 while the death toll is now at 679.
The four victims were aged between 50 and 75, with three of them dying at home and one at a hospital.
"We have also recorded 578 Covid positive patients who died from serious medical conditions they had before they contracted Covid-19; these are not classified as Covid deaths," said Dr Fong.
There were 52,285 cases since the April outbreak this year, with 52,356 cases since the pandemic started in March last year, he said.
Dr Fong also said 88.7 percent or 548,456 of the adult population were fully vaccinated and 22,117 children aged 15-17 got both jabs.
"With borders opening, we anticipate our testing numbers to increase from local and international repatriates as well as visitors entering the country."
