Fiji has recorded 258 new cases of COVID-19 for the 24 hour period that ended at 8am yesterday.
152 cases are from the Western Division and 106 cases are from the Central Division.
Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says 1 new COVID-19 case has been confirmed from Somosomo on Naviti Island in the Yasawa Group.
Dr Fong says the person developed severe COVID-19 symptoms and was medically evacuated to Lautoka Hospital.
Fiji currently has 19,130 active cases. 9,175 active cases are in the Central Division, 9,786 active cases in the Western Division, 5 active cases in the Northern Division (Nabouwalu and Macuata) and 164 active cases in the Eastern Division (all in Kadavu).
Dr Fong says there were not any new COVID-19 deaths to report yesterday.
However he says there have been 3 deaths of COVID-19 positive patients and these deaths have been classified as non-COVID deaths by their doctors.
Doctors have determined that their deaths were caused by serious pre-existing medical conditions and not COVID-19.
There have now been 479 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 477 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year.
As of August 23rd, the national 7 day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths per day is 7. The 7 day rolling average for COVID-19 deaths per day in the Central Division is 2 and in the Western Division is 5.
Dr Fong says that due to the time required by clinical teams to investigate, classify and report deaths, a 4-day interval is given to calculate the 7 day rolling average of deaths, based on date of death, in order to help ensure the data collected is complete before the average is reported.
The Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says they are still seeing a high number of cases and high test positivity of 33.5% in the Western Division indicating a very high level of community transmission.
Dr Fong says the test positivity in the Central Division is on a downward trend but still indicating a very high level of community transmission at 20.5%.
He says deaths have also been decreasing in Suva-Nausori over the last 4 weeks, while deaths in the West are still at a high level, with deaths per day at a 7 day average in the Western Division now surpassing the Central Division.
Dr Fong says the 7-day average of new cases per day is 334 cases per day or 377 cases per million population per day.
He adds as previously announced daily case numbers in Suva-Nausori are currently not being used as the sole indicator to monitor progress of the outbreak.
Dr Fong further says the Ministry is closely monitoring other indicators such as test positivity, hospitalisations and deaths to track the progress of the outbreak.
He also says with the decrease in testing numbers, testing remains above the World Health Organization’s recommended rate of 4 per 1000 population per week or about 3500 tests per week.
Dr Fong adds they will be transitioning to community surveillance testing as severe disease numbers and positivity rates approach the containment phase levels.
Dr Fong says the outlook for the cases found in the North indicate a persistent risk of a community outbreak and further tracing and testing results are needed to clearly understand the level of community transmission.
He says all contacts of the first case identified are in quarantine and so far testing negative.
Dr Fong further says the swabbing results from within the Nabouwalu containment area, and nearby communities are also returning negative.
The Nabouwalu index case (wharf worker) is in stable condition and the members of his family have continued to test negative for the virus.
Dr Fong says all primary contacts’ exit swabs have also returned negative.
He further says in regards to the three positive cases in Namara Tiri Labasa, they have established 60 primary contacts so far, adding that all have been swabbed and have returned negative results.
Dr Fong highlighted that the situation in Kadavu and Malolo Island is extremely concerning as there is clear evidence of community transmission on both islands.
He says they expect the case numbers to escalate together with the risk of severe disease and death.
Dr Fong adds the death reported from Naviti Island in the Yasawas is also of concern as it also suggests there is transmission occurring on the island.
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