Australian defence force to work within bubble
Australian Defence Force personell on a humanitarian mission to Fiji’s TC Yasa ravaged area confined to COVID19 bubble.
AUSTRALIAN military personnel currently en route to Fiji aboard the HMAS Adelaide have tested negative to COVID19 and will be tested on board the vessel again upon arrival tomorrow.
A statement from the Fijian government released earlier today answers questions raised in the public domain about fears that personnel on the ship could bring the virus.
Australia has had 28,337 cases, of which 909 have succumbed to COVID19, according to the Australian Government Department of Health.
In response to the severe impact of Cyclone Yasa, the Australian Government deployed the HMAS Adelaide to support the immediate repair of schools starting with Galoa Island in Bua and to support portable water production and other recovery efforts.
The HMAS Adelaide is scheduled to arrive to Fiji on 30 December 2020 after picking up Australian Defence Force (ADF) from Brisbane on December 24.
“To allow Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to safely assist with the TC Yasa support, Fiji has reinforced its COVID-19 border quarantine protocols through carefully-supervised quarantine corridors,” the Fijian Ministry of Health stated.
“Immediately prior to departure, all embarked forces and crew on board the HMAS Adelaide tested negative for COVID-19. The HMAS Adelaide is fully equipped with COVID-19 testing and laboratory equipment. After six days at sea, the disembarking force will be tested again for COVID-19. All other crew and embarked forces will remain on-board the vessel, and be tested on day 12 while in Fijian waters.”
While in Fiji, the personell will operate within a “ADF Bubble” under strict surveillance from Republic of Fiji Military Forces and Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
All ADF crew will work with RFMF within the quarantine environment as they carry out cyclone recovery work.
“The risk of transmission inside the bubble from day 6 to day 14 is extremely low as the forces will not have any public interaction and will be closely monitored inside the bubble by officials,” the MOH said.
– Ministry of Health
Meanwhile Fijian military who work within the ADF Bubble follow standard 14 quarantine following contact with ADF personnel.
“Fiji has temporarily restricted the number of repatriation flights to ensure sufficient RFMF and medical personnel are available to maintain the ADF bubble during the crew’s time in Fiji. Once the ADF’s work is complete and they depart, all facilities they have constructed will be thoroughly cleaned prior to public use.”
Learn more about the HMAS Adelaide.
