The Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says he would really like the Fiji Mini Bus Association to encourage its members to wear masks and understand that they are doing this for Fiji.
This is after the Viti Mini Buses said that mini bus drivers will decide for themselves if they want to follow the COVID-19 protocols.
He says he really would not like to resort to making the wearing of masks mandatory.
Doctor Fong stresses that mini bus drivers can refuse to take passengers who are not wearing masks.
He says gradually more people will wear masks if the mini bus drivers go ahead and refuse passengers that are not wearing masks.
Doctor Fong says people can go to the Health Ministry website to check out instructions on how to make a homemade face mask.
He says you should have two layers of cloth so that it can cover your nose and also be underneath the chin.
Doctor Fong stresses that this advice is in line with the recommendations by the World Health Organisation and the US Centres for Disease Control.
He says homemade masks offer some protection.
