COVID safe behaviour is absolutely necessary to ensure we do not have more severe cases as Fiji has about 40 ventilators and close to 40 airvos – Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says COVID safe behaviour is absolutely necessary to ensure we do not have continued escalation of cases and many more severe cases as Fiji has about 40 ventilators and close to 40 airvos to look after severe COVID patients.

A ventilator is a machine that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently.

An airvo is a humidifier with integrated flow generator that de-livers warmed and humidified respiratory gases to spontaneously breathing patients.

While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan, Doctor Fong says we have about 40 ventilators for now.

Doctor Fong says they may have access to other airvos however if severe cases escalate, they will have limited capacity.

Doctor Fong also says as new COVID cases continue to escalate in the Central Division and Nausori, people need to take action and ensure they take all the necessary COVID measures including vaccination as the Health Ministry would not want a worst-case scenario where they pull back to the hospitals to look after the increasing severe cases.

Doctor Fong made it clear that with many more cases and more severe cases, things will get very difficult. Doctor Fong says other countries who have faced this, have had to even pull back on the containment measures in the community.

Doctor Fong says all the severe cases are currently at CWM Hospital. He says there are 60 positive cases at CWM. Doctor Fong says 11 of the cases are severe that require oxy-gen.

He says these cases have COVID-19 and significant other illnesses.

You can watch the full Straight Talk interview on our website and facebook page, fijivillage.

Please follow all the COVID safety guidelines – wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or sanitize, wear a mask, practice 2 metres physical distancing and avoid unnecessary movements.

The Ministry of Health also advises people to get vaccinated when the vaccination teams come to your area.