67 year old unvaccinated Suvavou man dies from COVID-19 bringing the total number of reported COVID-19 deaths to 15

The reported COVID-19 cases based on tests conducted continue to rise in our country as 266 new cases have been announced in the 24 hour period ending at 8am today.

Another unvaccinated person has died from COVID-19.

This death was previously announced as being under investigation to determine if the cause of death was COVID-19.

This is a 67 year old man from Suvavou Lami who was admitted at the CWM Hospital for a pre-existing non-COVID-19 medical condition.

During his admission he tested positive for COVID-19, developed severe COVID-19, and died. His doctors have determined that his death was caused by COVID-19.

There have now been 15 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 13 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year. 2 deaths are still under investigation to determine if they were caused by COVID-19.

Fiji has also recorded 8 COVID-19 positive patients that died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses that they had been receiving treatment for at the CWM Hospital.

Looking at the new cases announced - Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says 1 case is from the Nawakalevu Containment Zone in Nadi, while the remaining 265 cases are from the Lami-Suva-Nausori Containment Zone.

102 cases are from existing areas of interest in this zone.

There are no new areas of interest to report today.

Doctor Fong says the remaining cases are contacts of known cases, cases that were seen in screening clinics and were swabbed, and cases under investigation to determine possible sources of transmission.

A full breakdown of areas of interest has been published online on the Ministry’s COVID-19 dashboard. You can check the link out on our website, fijivillage.

There have been 61 new recoveries reported since the last update, which means that there are now 2568 active cases in isolation.

There have been 3259 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021.

Fiji has recorded a total of 3329 cases since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 736 recoveries.

145,053 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 187,914 tested since testing began in early 2020.

Doctor Fong says the national 7-day average daily test positivity is 6.8 percent and continues on an upward trend.

The 7 day average of new cases per day has increased to 220 cases per day or 301 cases per million population per day.

Doctor Fong says the daily testing numbers have remained at a high level, and yet the test positivity continues to increase.

All the evidence is that there is widespread community transmission in the Lami-Suva-Nausori Containment Zone.

Doctor Fong says this means the outbreak is not confined to specific areas and everyone should take the necessary precautions and prevent themselves and their loved ones from getting infected.

There are clusters of active cases in Naitasiri and one cluster in Korovou.

There continue to be cases reported in Nadi, but so far they are from within the containment zone in the Nawajikuma, Nawakalevu, and Tramline Containment Area.

In Lautoka, there are 3 active cases currently, as announced previously.

To date, this outbreak appears contained to Viti Levu, with the Northern and Eastern divisions yet to detect a case.

Stay home as much as possible, but if you have to leave your home, wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, make sure you have the careFIJI app downloaded and Bluetooth on if you have a smartphone, keep at least 2 metres between yourself and others outside your home.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid crowds, and crowded confined places.

According to the official COVID-19 dashboard, the active cases are in Toorak, Waimanu Road, Ratu Sukuna Road, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Nasova Police Barracks, Muanikau, Laucala Bay, Flagstaff, Knolly Street, Berry Road, Raiwaqa, Wailea, Vatuwaqa, Samabula, Tamavua, Namadi, Nabua, Valelevu, Kinoya, Nadera, Nadawa, Laqere, Kalabu, Muanikoso, Tovata, Narere, Makoi, Nakasi, Davuilevu, Koronivia, Dilkusha, Sawani, Naqali, Naqeledamu, Lakena, Vuci Road, Naduru, Vunivaivai, Kuku/ Raralevu, Mokani, Kasavu, Logani, Tobuniqio Village, Verata, Korovou, Waikalou, Laselevu and Tubarua Village in Naitasiri, Wailoku, Reservoir Road, Walu Bay, Naval Base, Tamavua-I-Wai, Nadonumai, Delainavesi, Vugalei, Lami Village, Lami Police Station, Qauia, Naivikinikini Settlement, Wailekutu, Namuka-I-Lau and Veisari.

Other quarantine facilities with active cases in Suva are the Grand Pacific Hotel, Holiday Inn, Southern Cross Hotel, James Cook Hotel, Peninsula, Tanoa Hotel and Town House Apartments.

In Nadi there are cases in Nawaka, Savunawai, Double Tree Quarantine Facility, Airport Apartments Quarantine Facilities, Mercure Hotel Quarantine Facility, Nasau Resort Villas Quarantine Facility, Tanoa Quarantine Facility, and the Hilton Resort Quarantine Facility. In Lautoka there are active cases Natabua Quarantine Facility in Drasa Vitogo and Vitogo Parade.

There is also a case at the Outrigger Quarantine Facility in Sigatoka.