The Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says as the second dose coverage increases, it is expected that internal borders within Viti Levu will be lifted soon.
97% of the target population have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 57.7% are now fully vaccinated nationwide.
Dr Fong says the public must remain cautious about how they engage in the greater freedom of movement that will be enjoyed.
He further says the increased public movement is needed to facilitate livelihood and to get more families together.
Dr Fong adds to avoid the risk of increased spread of the virus, the public must vaccinate, adhere to COVID safe measures and avoid contained spaces and crowds.
Dr Fong further says travel from Viti Levu to the North and to the maritime islands remains highly regulated with pre-departure and quarantine protocols in place.
He adds given the near misses in the North and cases now seen in some of the maritime islands, they have no near-term plans to change the protocols around inter-island travel.
Dr Fong says they will be looking at increasing our capacity to move people safely to the North and Maritime Islands using the protocols currently in place.
Beqa Island is the new area of interest after a 70-year-old bedridden man who passed away in his home in Dakuni Village on 8th September, was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says a health team consisting of health personnel from the Serua/Namosi medical subdivision and CWM Hospital were dispatched to the island on Friday to undertake awareness, contact tracing, outbreak assessment, testing, risk assessment for positive cases, vaccination, and delivery of clinical care.
Dr Fong says 2 new cases have since been identified at Dakuibeqa Village bringing the total number of cases to 3.
He adds vaccination coverage for the island is currently at 75% for the first dose and 23% for the second dose. Rations have been provided to affected families in Dakuni Village, and movement restriction is now in place for the whole island.
Dr Fong says Kadavu recorded 2 new cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of cases on the island to 465. A team of 15 Police officers has arrived on the island to assist in the enforcement of the COVID restriction measures in place.
Dr Fong further says Malolo Island recorded 6 new cases in the village of Solevu bringing the total number of cases to 87.
Movement restrictions remain in force for all villages on the island.
One new case was identified on Naviti island in the last 24 hours bringing the total cases to 111.
Contact tracing and daily assessment continue in the villages while travel restriction remains for the whole island.
Dr Fong says the community engagement team comprising personnel from various government agencies based in the western division have arrived on Naviti Island and will undertake awareness, community assessment and disease surveillance activities in the communities under the Kese Medical Area over the next two weeks.
A 34 year old woman from Nadi has passed away due to COVID-19.
She was not fully vaccinated as she did not receive the second dose of the vaccine.
There have now been 535 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji.
The Ministry of Health has also recorded 363 COVID-19 positive patients who died from serious medical conditions that they had before they contracted COVID-19.
Meanwhile, 143 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported for the 24 hour period that ended at 8am today.
86 cases are from the Western Division, 55 cases are from the Central Division and 2 cases are from the Eastern Division.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr. James Fong says there are now 12,861 active cases. 1,605 active cases are in the Central Division, 10,956 active cases in the Western Division, 5 active cases in the Northern Division and 295 active cases are in the Eastern Division (all in Kadavu).
There are currently 130 COVID-19 patients admitted in hospital. 18 patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 5 are in critical condition.
Dr. Fong adds 568,998 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 338,251 have received their second doses.
He says this means that 97% of the target population have received at least one dose and 57.7% are now fully vaccinated nationwide.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
