Corona Virus Covid-19 Response
Lautoka City Councils Strategies Towards Mitigating Impacts of COVID -19
In light of the current Global COVID-19 pandemic, LCC has put in place the following measures in trying to prevent COVID – 19 within Lautoka City:
- We are embarking on a series of measures and actions in the interests of the health and wellbeing of residents in response to the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
- Council has a duty of care to the community and our staff and we are fully committed to take whatever action we can to slow the spread of the virus in our region.
- Council is taking the lead in this by canceling or postponing all non-essential gatherings, events and meetings that come under Council control. Our Administration Centre and non-essential Council venues and facilities are also closed.
- Awareness created for staff, businesses, members of the public and residents via Circulars, announcements and posters to take necessary precautions in terms of adhering to Covid 19 protocols.
- Council implemented covid 19 protocols for the market in terms of physical/social distancing, crowd control with help of police, the mandatory wearing of masks, hand sanitizing, limiting entry/exit points, checking care Fiji App, stop selling of produce from outside open areas, regular awareness to vendors and visitors via intercom announcements.
- Council has put in place strict protocols for staff and customers when visiting the council office. This includes the display of awareness posters/notices at the office, checkpoints at the entry points (temperature check, Care Fiji App, record keeping of every visitor, hand sanitizing, compulsory wearing of masks, physical distancing, limit visitation to other offices except urgent, etc).
- COVID -19 Awareness Billboard placed at strategic locations (Drasa Avenue Junction/Thompson Crescent roundabout and Market).
- Representation on West COVID -19 Taskforce Team – Council has nominated two staff namely SHI Shalend Singh and Administration Officer Esika Qoro to the West COVID-19 Taskforce team to represent the council. Staffs attend meetings and provide councils updates.
- Provided staff to assist the Ministry of Health in cleaning and sanitizing works at Lautoka Hospital.
- Assist in setting up of fever clinics. Council offered Churchill Park for briefings for screening teams.
- Monitoring and closing down of non-essential businesses during lockdowns. (Total of 51 non-essential businesses were closed down during lockdown in 2020 and 47 in 2021). Two businesses were referred to Police and later charged put in custody and charged for disobedience of lawful order.
- Monitoring and COVID 19 Awareness visits with the distribution of circulars for food shops (eateries, bakeries, warehouses and supermarkets, etc). Emphasis has been placed on the maintenance of good hygiene practices (GHP) eg washroom facilities, hand washing facilities, sanitizing of contact surfaces. Failure to comply will result in litigation measures. Encouraged to place Hand sanitizers at entry.
- Monitoring and Emphasis on Cleaning/sanitizing of Public conveniences. Distributed disinfectants and cleaning materials including soaps/hand wash. Hand Sanitizers installed at strategic locations. staffs deployed to carry out cleaning and sanitizing on regular basis.
- Council in partnership with other government agencies and CSO groups conducted Awareness to General Public (whole city residential areas, Market, supermarket, PRB Flats, Street announcements using hailer for residents, settlements, villages, FNU Students etc)
- All food vendors like juice sellers, sweet carts, food parcels, BBQ, etc advised to cease operation during the lockdown.
- Waste pickers stopped from entering landfills during the lockdown.
- Council assisted with cleaning and maintenance work for Natabua High School Community Isolation Centre. Special Administrators and CEO liaised with corporate sector for assistance eg Cathay Hotel, FRIENDS, Punjas and Subrails Furniture for donation of supplies like mattresses, pillows, food, soap and sanitizers.
- Council released 12 staff for Mobile Fever Clinic and COVID -19 Screening as findings of the mass screening would enable the government to make a decision regarding the uplifting of the lockdown.