COVID-19 UPDATE BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES DR. JAMES FONG - 19.06.21

19/06/2021


Transmission Update
We have recorded 150 new cases in the 24-hour period ending at 8:00 am today.

117  cases are from the following known clusters: 

Nasinu Police Barracks: 1
RFMF: 1
Townhouse Hotel: 18
Public Rental Board: 1
CWMH: 32
Freshet: 3
Navosai: 7 
Mineral Resources Department: 9 
Waila: 9 
Vunimono: 1
Max Value Supermarket Lami: 1
Muanikoso: 4
Caubati: 1
Korovou: 2
Vunivivi: 1
FPBS: 26

A new cluster has been identified at the Nasese Medical Centre, with 1 new case reported today, adding to the 6 cases already in this cluster. 

7 cases are primary contacts of other cases - this includes 3 cases from Charles St. Toorak. 

2 cases presented to the FEMAT facility and are under investigation. 

23 cases from the following areas are under investigation to determine if they have links to other cases - they are currently considered as cases of community transmission: Salato Rd, Tamavua (1) Duvula Rd, Nadera (4), Bryce Street, Raiwaqa (1), Sanpuran, St Nausori (1), Navuso, Nausori (1), Anorogo Pl, Davuilevu (1), Muana Village, Toga, Nausori (5), Naitalasese, Bua Rd (1), Matanimoli Village, Noco (1), Totogo Police (4), Wainibokasi (2), Qauia, Lami (1). 

Investigations into the death of a 49-year-old at CWM Hospital reported yesterday are now complete. The patient’s doctors at CWMH have determined that his death was a result of the severe non-COVID-19 pre-existing medical condition that he was receiving treatment for during his admission at the hospital and not COVID-19. 
 
21 more  COVID-19 patients have recovered, which means there are now 1311 active cases in isolation. There have been 1728 cases during this outbreak that started in April 2021.
 
We have recorded a total of 1798 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020. There have been 473 recoveries and 6 deaths due to COVID-19, with 4 of the deaths during the outbreak that started in April 2021. A total of 8 COVID-19 positive patients have died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses. 
 
Testing Update
A total of 124,264 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 167,125 tested since testing began in early 2020.
 
3016 tests have been reported for June 17th. The national 7-day daily test average is 3297 tests per day or 3.7 tests per 1000 population per day at a 7 day rolling average. The 7 day average daily test positivity is 3.2%, and has continued to trend upwards with increasing daily case numbers, despite high levels of testing. 
 
Epidemic Outlook
The 7 day average of new cases per day has increased to 105 cases per day or 119 cases per million population per day.  
 
The increasing numbers of cases in the Lami-Suva-Nausori containment zone clearly indicates ongoing community transmission. There are also clusters in Naitasiri and one cluster in Korovou.
 
There continue to be cases reported in Nadi, but so far they are from within the containment zone in the Nawaka area.
 
To-date this outbreak appears contained to Viti Levu, with the Northern and Eastern divisions yet to detect a case. 
 
A multi-disciplinary Australian Medical Assistance Team has deployed to Fiji to assist with the provision of healthcare services, primarily in the Central Division. Our main priority will be on creating additional medical spaces that can offer non-COVID care to patients and strengthen our infection control protocols. The AUSMAT team will deploy for 28-days starting next week. The members of the deployment are all fully-vaccinated so we have amended our quarantine requirements to ten days to allow them to deploy quickly upon arrival to Fiji.
 
While we have not seen high rates of hospitalisations and fatalities so far that could change if the virus spreads further among more vulnerable segments of our population. The best way to protect those most vulnerable in our society is by adopting common-sense measures to protect ourselves from the virus and stop us from becoming carriers. Just because young people are less likely to suffer from severe disease, does not mean they cannot pass the virus to others who may be more susceptible to be hospitalised or die due to COVID-19. If you need to leave the house, wear a mask or face covering. Do not gather. Maintain a physical distance of two metres from others at all times. Install careFIJI and keep Bluetooth turned on whenever you leave the home. Wash your hands often with soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. And when you have the chance to be vaccinated, come forward.