94.3% of the target population have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine and 42.9% are now fully vaccinated

553,399 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the COVID vaccine and 251,396 have received their second doses.

This means that 94.3% of the target population have received at least one dose and 42.9% are now fully vaccinated nationwide.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong also says the 7-day average of new COVID cases per day is 365 cases per day or 413 cases per million population per day.

He sags they have noted a drop in cases reported per day recently however, the daily testing numbers have also been dropping around the same time, due to the change in testing policy in Suva-Nausori.

Since July 21st, only persons that have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 are being targeted for testing in Suva-Nausori.

This was done so that resources could be targeted to early detection, monitoring and care of persons with COVID-19 who are at higher risk of severe disease, to prevent more people succumbing to severe disease and death.

Doctor Fong says we are likely seeing the effect of this testing policy change now in Suva-Nausori with the drop in daily reported cases.

He says this does not mean that the outbreak is on a downward trend in the Suva-Nausori community.

As previously announced by the Permanent Secretary, daily case numbers in Suva-Nausori are currently not being used as an indicator to monitor progress of the outbreak in Suva-Nausori.

The Ministry is closely monitoring other indicators such as test positivity, hospitalisations and deaths to track the progress of the outbreak in Suva-Nausori.

However, even with the decrease in testing numbers, testing remains above the WHO recommended rate of 4 tests per 1000 population per week (or approximately 3500 tests per week).

Doctor Fong says they will be transitioning to community surveillance testing as severe disease numbers and positivity rates approach the containment phase levels.

He says we are seeing increasing cases reported in the Western Division with evidence of widespread community transmission in the division.

Deaths per day at a 7 day average in the Western Division now surpass the Central Division.

The outlook for the cases found in the North indicate a persistent risk of a community outbreak.

Further tracing and testing results are needed to clearly understand the level of community transmission.

All contacts of the first case identified are in quarantine and so far testing negative. The swabbing results from within the Nabouwalu containment area, and nearby communities are also returning negative.

He says the situation in Kadavu and Malolo Island is extremely concerning as there is clear evidence of community transmission on both islands.

They expect the case numbers to escalate together with the risk of severe disease and death.

The death reported today from Naviti Island in the Yasawas is also of concern as it also suggests there is transmission occurring on the island.