Rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Central Division sees additional COVID care facilities set up in Khatri Hall, Sangam Hall and Patel Samaj Hall

With the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Central Division, the Health Ministry has now set up more COVID-19 care facilities in the Suva area to care for the positive patients.

40 beds have been set up for females only at Khatri Hall at Desvouex Road.

80 beds have been set up for males at TISI Sangam Hall at Belo Street in Samabula.

30 beds are now set up at Patel Samaj Hall in Toorak.

This is for post delivery mothers with their babies and it is specifically for COVID positive mums who are stable after delivery.

These isolation care facilities are also to make bed space at CWM Hospital.

Isolation care facilities are for care for the COVID-19 positive patients.

The Health Ministry stresses that these are not quarantine facilities.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong has also made it clear that due to the increasing COVID-19 cases in the Suva-Nausori containment zone, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services advises that home-based screening and swabbing services in Suva-Nausori will no longer be provided until further notice, except in exceptional circumstances.

Doctor Fong says the exceptional circumstances include if an individual has a disability or is otherwise physically unable to leave their home and attend a clinic, and these people should call 158.

He says their response teams in Suva-Nausori will now be redirected to the identification and close monitoring of people with COVID-19 who are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19.

He also says daily case numbers are expected to continue to increase, along with an increase in people with COVID-19 requiring hospitalisation, and sadly, more deaths.

Doctor Fong says people in Suva-Nausori should visit their nearest screening clinic for testing if they have COVID-19 symptoms (cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, fatigue, headache, aches and pains, sore throat, fever, diarrhoea, red eyes, loss of taste or smell); or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

He says any disruptions to screening clinic services, for instance for decontamination, will be communicated to the public.

Doctor Fong says a person in Suva-Nausori with symptoms, or who has been in close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, should immediately isolate from others, including other members of your household if possible.

He says where possible, visit the nearest screening clinic for a COVID-19 swab.

Please wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose and keep a safe physical distance of 2 metres from others.

Please avoid using public transport to travel to the screening clinic.

Doctor Fong says if you cannot avoid using public transport, please ensure to wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose at all times and maintain physical distance from others.

In other parts of Fiji, persons with COVID-19 symptoms, or who are contacts of cases, should call 158 to be advised by the respective medical teams in those areas.

He says the FEMAT Field Hospital has begun the transition into a COVID-19 dedicated hospital and they have set up an emergency number 165 for people with severe COVID-19 symptoms to contact if they cannot get to a hospital themselves.

Doctor Fong says sadly they continue to see people with severe COVID-19 dying at home or coming to a medical facility in the late stages of severe illness and dying within a day or two.

He says severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency and a delay in receiving appropriate medical treatment may result in a higher risk of death.

The 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; and Pale, gray, or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds.

If you or a loved one have any of these symptoms please go immediately to your nearest medical facility or call 165 if unable to get to a medical facility.