Severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency, please go to the designated health facility if you have severe symptoms – Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong stresses that severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency, and a delay in receiving appropriate medical treatment reduces your chance of recovering from the disease.

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.

There have been 327 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 325 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year.

We have also recorded 171 COVID-19 positive patients who died from the serious medical conditions that they had before they contracted COVID-19; these are not classified as COVID-19 deaths.

Doctor Fong says they need all Fijians to know the severe symptoms of COVID-19, which 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.

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

In the Western Division, please go to your nearest healthcare facility if you have symptoms of severe COVID-19.

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