54% of the target population has received at least one dose of AstraZeneca while 9% are now fully vaccinated

318, 830 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine while 52,592 have received their second doses.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says this means that 54 percent of the target population has received at least one dose and 9 percent are now fully vaccinated nationwide.

Meanwhile Doctor Fong says the 7-day average of new cases per day has increased to 383 cases per day or 433 cases per million population per day.

He says as expected, with the increasing case numbers they are also seeing increasing number of people with severe disease, and more deaths in the Suva-Nausori containment zone.

Doctor Fong says it remains a serious concern that some people with severe disease come to a medical facility only in the late stages of their illness.

He says they are still sadly seeing people with severe disease die at home or on the way to hospital, before the medical teams have a chance to administer what could potentially be life saving treatment.

Doctor Fong says the 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.