67% of the target population have received at least one dose of AstraZeneca and 13.4% are now fully vaccinated

393,095 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 78,624 have received their second doses.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says this means that 67 percent of the target population have received at least one dose and 13.4 percent are now fully vaccinated nationwide.

Meanwhile the 7-day average of new cases per day is a worrying 1000 cases per day or 1130 cases per million population per day.

Doctor Fong says the average daily case numbers are increasing, together with cases of severe disease and deaths.

A total of 225,366 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 268,227 tested since testing began in March 2020.

The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 24 percent and continues on an upward trend.

Doctor Fong says in the Suva-Nausori Containment Zone, 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, pale, gray, or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds.

Doctor Fong says in the Suva-Nausori Containment Zone, they have identified health facilities specifically designated to receive people with symptoms of severe COVID-19.

If you or a loved one live in the Suva-Nausori Containment Zone and have any of these severe symptoms please go immediately to CWM Hospital, FEMAT Hospital, Vodafone Arena, individuals in Nausori with severe symptoms should go to Nausori Health Centre or Wainibokasi Hospital.

Call 165 if you are unable to travel to a medical facility.