Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong confirms they have recorded 150 new cases in the 24-hour period ending at 8am yesterday.
117 cases are from known clusters.
2 cases who presented to the FEMAT Field Hospital at the Vodafone Arena are under investigation and 4 cases are under investigation from Totogo Police.
Doctor Fong says CWM Hospital cluster has 32 new cases, Nasinu Police Barracks cluster has 1 new case, RFMF cluster has 1 new case, Townhouse Hotel cluster has 18 new cases, Public Rental Board cluster has 1 new case, Freshet cluster 3 new cases, Navosai cluster has 7 new cases, Mineral Resources Department cluster has 9 new cases, Waila cluster 9 cases, Vunimono cluster 1 case, Max Value Supermarket Lami cluster 1 case, Muanikoso cluster has 4 new cases, Caubati cluster 1 new case, Korovou cluster 2 more cases, Vunivivi cluster 1 case while the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services cluster has 26 new cases.
Doctor Fong says a new cluster has been identified at the Nasese Medical Centre with 1 new case reported, adding to the 6 cases already in this cluster.
7 cases are primary contacts of other cases – this includes 3 cases from Charles Street in Toorak.
23 cases are currently under investigation and considered as cases of community transmission.
1 case is in Salato Rd, Tamavua, 4 cases in Duvula Rd, Nadera, 1 case in Bryce Street, Raiwaqa, 1 case in Sanpuran St, Nausori, 1 case in Navuso, Nausori, 1 case in Anorogo Pl, Davuilevu, 5 cases in Muana Village, Toga in Nausori, 1 case in Naitalasese, Bua Rd, 1 case in Matanimoli Rd, 2 cases in Wainibokasi and 1 case from Qauia, Lami.
Investigations into the death of a 49-year-old at CWM Hospital are now complete.
The patient’s doctors at the hospital have determined that his death was a result of the severe non-COVID-19 pre-existing medical condition that he was receiving treatment for during his admission at the hospital and not COVID-19.
21 more COVID-19 patients have recovered, which means there are now 1,311 active cases in isolation.
There have been 1,728 cases during this outbreak that started in April 2021.
Fiji has recorded a total of 1,798 cases since the first case was reported in March 2020.
There have been 473 recoveries and 6 deaths due to COVID-19, with 4 of the deaths during the outbreak that started in April 2021.
A total of 8 COVID-19 positive patients have died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses. 124,264 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 167,125 tested since testing began in early 2020.
The 7 day average of new COVID-19 cases per day for Fiji has increased to 105 cases per day or 119 cases per million population per day.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the increasing number of cases in the Lami-Suva-Nausori containment zone clearly indicates ongoing community transmission.
He says there are also clusters in Naitasiri and one cluster in Korovou.
Doctor Fong says we continue to have cases reported in Nadi, but so far they are from within the containment zone in the Nawaka area.
He says to date this outbreak appears contained to Viti Levu, with the Northern and Eastern divisions yet to detect a case.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the main priority of the Australian Medical Assistance Team coming in will be on creating additional medical spaces that can offer non-COVID care to patients and strengthen their infection control protocols.
Doctor Fong confirms the multi-disciplinary AUSMAT team has been deployed to Fiji to assist with the provision of health care services, primarily in the Central Division.
He says the AUSMAT team will deploy for 28-days starting next week.
Doctor Fong confirms the members of the deployment are all fully-vaccinated so they have amended the quarantine requirements to ten days to allow them to deploy quickly upon arrival to Fiji.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says while we have not seen high rates of hospitalisations and fatalities so far in Fiji, that could change if COVID-19 spreads further among more vulnerable segments of our population.
Doctor Fong says the best way to protect those most vulnerable in our society is by adopting common-sense measures to protect ourselves from the virus and stop us from becoming carriers.
He stresses when you have the chance to be vaccinated, come forward and get vaccinated.
Doctor Fong says just because young people are less likely to suffer from severe disease, does not mean they cannot pass the virus to others who may be more susceptible to be hospitalised or die due to COVID-19.
He says if you need to leave the house, wear a mask or face covering.
Do not gather.
Maintain a physical distance of two metres from others at all times.
Install careFIJI and keep the Bluetooth turned on whenever you leave the home.
Wash your hands often with soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
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