The number of COVID-19 cases are increasing in the Central Division because people are not following COVID protocols - PM

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has made it clear that the number of COVID-19 cases are increasing in the Central Division, and the only way to ensure that the cases do not rise further is to follow all the COVID-19 safe measures.

While speaking during the arrival to Suva of Bravo Team of the Australia and New Zealand Medical Assistance Team at Albert Park, Bainimarama says following the COVID protocols is the next best thing to lockdowns.

Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete says with the vaccination rate increasing everyday, people need to continue to follow the COVID-19 protocols.

He says vaccination protection and COVID protocols will result in the decrease of the cases, and he is calling on everyone to work together.

370,219 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 70,917 have received their second doses.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says this means that 63.1% of the target population have received at least one dose and 12.1% are now fully vaccinated nationwide.

Meanwhile, the 7-day average of new cases per day is 675 cases per day or 763 cases per million population per day. A total of 208,343 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 251,204 tested since testing began in early 2020.

The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 18% and continues on an upward trend.

Doctor Fong says sadly, people with severe COVID-19 are still dying at home or they are coming to a medical facility in the late stages of severe illness.

He says severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency, and a delay in receiving appropriate medical treatment reduces your chance of recovering from the disease.

Severe symptoms of COVID-19 include difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, severe headache for a few days, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake; and pale, gray, or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds.

If you or a loved one have any of these symptoms please go immediately to your nearest medical facility or call 165 if unable to get to a medical facility.

[images: Fijian Government]