90-year-old man dies from COVID-19, 5 hospital admissions and 43 new cases recorded

A 90-year-old male from Labasa has died from COVID-19 while 43 new cases have also been recorded in the country since last Friday.

The Ministry of Health says he developed respiratory symptoms on Friday last week and had received 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

They say 5 people are currently admitted for COVID in hospitals around the country.

The Ministry says they will continue to focus on implementing COVID safe measures around those vulnerable to the severe effects of COVID-19 and this includes escalating measures in hospitals, old people’s homes and facilities catering to disabled persons.

The Ministry says they will escalate screening protocols and masking for staff, patients, and visitors.

The also say visitor restrictions will be in place.

The Ministry further says with currently available data, the symptoms are similar to the prior strains with no evidence of more severe infection.

They say recent mutations of COVID-19 have led to less severe disease because the virus must give up something, in this case, its ability to harm, to survive.