Fiji nightmare

[Pushka]

Looking at the exempt countries for pre-departure testing for international arrivals, I think the lesson here is to go to vanuatu, samoa or tonga.

If the Fijian government is so desperate for tourists, maybe they need to know their competitors are better options because of the Fiji testing regime.


what's the old adage, believe incompetence over conspiracy. The fact is the government is incompetent, and have been for years. just a shame it takes a crisis to highlight the obvious failings of the clowns people have been voting in for years.
There isn't some secret little government conspiracy to prevent people managing situations like these. The politicians just didn't bother to buy the stock of tests, when they've known for months they'd need them.

Good point. But SA is obsessed with control so I think it’s a bit of both. Maybe one stems from the other.

 

[maccaisking]

For anyone stuck in a similar spot (and sorry it seems this is too late now Flyfl) there is a testing centre at Port Denarau who will complete PCRs on anybody, fee is ~$260FJD which hurts, but it is there if needed. They provide documents for travel with this.

Also a watch out to anyone in the Denarau area, remember to mask up and distance where possible, COVID is circulating there. We returned home on Monday night and 6yo MsMac had a +ive on our arrival test on Tuesday Morning. We think it was likely picked up at resort or on trip to airport. Our PCRs 72 hours before leaving were negative. In good news she has no symptoms and the rest of us are -ive.

 

[straitman]

Isn't @straitman and family in Fiji currently?

Yes.

I’ll do a more complete answer asap but we are about to move apartments.

So as not to highjack this thread I have started another detailing our experiences.

Our Fiji Trip Jan 2022.

I do have to say though that whilst I have read and heard some horror stories it is not something we have experienced at all and certainly nothing like what flyfl has experienced.

 

[Dr Ralph]

@flyfl Sorry to hear about your troubles. Thank you for posting though. Its reinforced my thought that it's still too soon to be booking international travel. The risk is too great for me.

 

[oznflfan]

@flyfl Sorry to hear about your troubles. Thank you for posting though. It's reinforced my thought that it's still too soon to be booking international travel.

Maybe we need to sick Graham Turner onto the fed's to change stupid PCR rule. He's a smart guy though, sure he's all over this PCR cough.

 

[jakeseven7]

For holidaying it’s probably safer to stick to ‘covid is a part of life’ countries now…

 

[Jmrocky]

Looking at the exempt countries for pre-departure testing for international arrivals, I think the lesson here is to go to vanuatu, samoa or tonga.

If the Fijian government is so desperate for tourists, maybe they need to know their competitors are better options because of the Fiji testing regime.

My understanding is PCR testing prior to arrival to Australia is an Australian government requirement and the only reason Vanuatu / Samoa / Tonga are exempt from pre-departure testing into Australia was getting a PCR test in these countries is very difficult i.e. the Fijian government isn't stipulating this test, our government is.

Why the feds haven't moved to RAT tests for pre-departure when we are using RAT for post international arrivals is beyond me.

 

[straitman]

New rules did come out yesterday and the isolation period is now down to 7 days.

 

[straitman]

New rules did come out yesterday and the isolation period is now down to 7 days.

A slightly more official version of this is:

Bula Everyone Important info to know - You can leave fiji as soon as you get a negative PCR (after your 7 days isolation - that’s Fiji’s requirement)

If you continue to test positive you need to get a medical certificate on day 14 which clears you fly back home.

If you are flying Qantas, instead of the medical certificate you need to get a doctor to fill in their form instead at 14 days.

The 14 days is Australian requirement for people who are still testing positive.

Vinaka Vakalevu TF Team

 

[MooTime]

I'm glad I decided not to go Fiji this Feb.

Seems very odd that we AUS have what ~100k cases per day now yet don't want few more from aussies returning from a much longed holiday O/S.
Guess you could infect others on the flight home....I wouldn't want to catch covid on a flight home, then again who's to know how many covid pax on my next domestic flight anyway. Ahhh, bring on 2023!!

 

[Mattg]

I'm glad I decided not to go Fiji this Feb.

Seems very odd that we AUS have what ~100k cases per day now yet don't want few more from aussies returning from a much longed holiday O/S.
Guess you could infect others on the flight home....

The thing is, it is highly likely that the OP is no longer infectious at all as it's been over two weeks since their positive RAT and they've now recovered and since tested negative with a RAT. So they would not be infecting others on the flight home.

The issue is that they never had access to a PCR test in the first place. It's a bureaucratic nightmare.

 

[MooTime]

The thing is, it is highly likely that the OP is no longer infectious at all as it's been over two weeks since their positive RAT and they've now recovered and since tested negative with a RAT. So they would not be infecting others on the flight home.

The issue is that they never had access to a PCR test in the first place. It's a bureaucratic nightmare.

Good point.

But from memory it was a condition of holidaying in Fiji that your get a negative PCR before departure.
Be it Aus or Fiji requirement I'm not sure, but you'd want to know where to get one at least before flying out. Having to go to a hospital I'd think isn't very resourceful, considering you can get one in Denarau.

 

[straitman]

Good point.

But from memory it was a condition of holidaying in Fiji that your get a negative PCR before departure.
Be it Aus or Fiji requirement I'm not sure, but you'd want to know where to get one at least before flying out. Having to go to a hospital I'd think isn't very resourceful, considering you can get one in Denarau.

An Australian requirement

 

[_flyer]

What I nightmare. So sorry to hear about your troubles. My experience was quiet the opposite. Maybe it was the resorts we were staying at but both had RAT and PCR testing on-site. It was really well organised. We stayed on an outer island too.

 

[Lynda2475]

I was of the understanding (obviously not correct) that Aussies visiting Fiji had to stay a subset of approved resorts/hotels which had in-house testing facilities. I thought the outer islands were a no go whilst the test requirements were in place.

I will only be booking travel to locations where is it very clear where one can get required test type to return home.

 

[straitman]

I was of the understanding (obviously not correct) that Aussies visiting Fiji had to stay a subset of approved resorts/hotels which had in-house testing facilities. I thought the outer islands were a no go whilst the test requirements were in place.

I will only be booking travel to locations where is it very clear where one can get required test type to return home.

That is a requirement of entry to the country. How they can say it's not their problem is beyond belief.

All the requirements and details are here: Care Fiji

 

[straitman]

Pretty self explanatory IMHO.

 

[jakeseven7]

There was a similar story on the new tonight… I think it might blow a hole in Fiji tourism if these cases keep popping up….

 

[straitman]

There was a similar story on the new tonight… I think it might blow a hole in Fiji tourism if these cases keep popping up….

Any details? When, where etc?

 

[jakeseven7]

Any details? When, where etc?

ABC news radio, sorry I wasn’t listening carefully.

It sounded like a call in, they tested positive, struggled to get tested, then had to stay an extra 10 days (apparently)