Person walks along the road as security officers check cars in Suva, Fiji on 26 April, 2021. Photo: Leon Lord / AFP
Fiji is preparing for another Covid-19 surge after the country's push for tourism partnerships with China and appearance of a new variant.
Early this month, Fiji's Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka said the country would boost marketing efforts with China after his call with chargé d'affaires and Political Counselor, Wang Xuguang.
With the country's recent detection of the XBB.1.5 variant of Covid-19 - nicknamed The Kraken - and China's loosening of its Covid-related border restrictions, Fijian authorities are ramping up their detection methods.
A Ministry of Health official said Fiji would start to distinguish between the different variants of Covid-19 using genomic sequencing.
"No we haven't separated them yet. We've been able to do genomic sequencing fairly recently and we are testing that now.
"Which means that anyone, any person of interest who develops symptoms, if they do test positive we will definitely do genomic sequencing here now that we can do it locally."
The official said Fiji does not require proof of a negative test for now, as authorities are hoping border restrictions in other countries will offer a layer of protection.
"Because we don't have any direct flights from China and we know that other countries are demanding testing before they arrive to their country.
"So it means they get tested before they reach Fiji. At least that's a layer or filter for us. But Fiji is not demanding a negative test."
While there are currently no direct flights from China to Fiji, tourists can come via Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
Fiji's border is open to fully-vaccinated travellers only.