STATEMENT BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES DR. JAMES FONG - 15.06.21

Daily Update
There are 116 new cases to report today. 93 of the new cases are linked to the following existing clusters:

Caubati: 7
Nasinu Police Barracks: 24
Navy: 3
CWMH: 14
Waila: 3
Sakoca: 5
Nawajikuma, Nawaka, Nadi: 2
Tramline, Nawaka, Nadi: 8    
Muanikoso: 1
Reservoir Rd: 10
Navosai: 1
Nakasi: 1
Tacirua: 2
Grantham Rd: 2
Vunimono 10
 
3 cases have been identified as primary contacts of earlier cases, and the respective response teams are determining the cluster link. 13 cases, from the following areas, are under investigation to determine whether they have links to other cases: Mead Road (2), Nasese (1), Princess Rd (1), Vatuwaqa (1), Veisari, Lami (1), Tovata in Makoi (1), Wailoku (1), Koronivia (2), Vanuadina Village, Nausori (1), Naduru, Nausori (1), Nausori Town (1). Investigations are also ongoing into 3 cases that were swabbed at the Valelevu and Raiwaqa screening clinics. 

There are now also 4 cases in the Korovou area in Tailevu. Early investigations have revealed that 1 is a driver that was recruited into the Korovou COVID-19 response team. The other 3 cases are primary contacts of this driver - a relative and other members of the response team. Investigations are ongoing into how these cases contracted the virus , and the subdivisional medical team are working to contain this new cluster.  

Sadly, a 73 year old patient at the CWM Hospital has died. The patient had been admitted at the hospital for almost a month for a severe non-COVID related illness, and tested positive 11 days ago. Whilst his prognosis was poor, this death has been classified as  a COVID-19 death by the doctors treating him. We extend our sincere condolences to the loved ones of the deceased. 

This is the 3rd death due to COVID-19 during this current outbreak, and the 5th COVID-19 death overall for Fiji. 

32 COVID-19  cases have recovered, which means there are now 943 active cases in isolation. There have been 1252 cases during this outbreak that started in April 2021.

We have recorded a total of 1322 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020. There have been 367 recoveries and 5 deaths due to COVID-19. A total of 7 COVID-19 positive patients have died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses.

Testing update
A total of 114,386 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 157,247 tested since testing began in early 2020.
 
3875 tests have been reported for June 14th, a new daily record of testing. This number is expected to increase as test number data has not yet been received from the laboratory at Nadi hospital.  The national 7-day daily test average is 3503 tests per day or 4 tests per 1000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 2%.

Vaccination
In the last 24 hours, a total of 4,355 first doses and 730 second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered nationally. This brings the total number of vaccinations conducted to date to 242,721 first doses and 6,224 second doses into the arms of Fijians. Nationally, 41% of the target population of people aged 18 and over have received the first dose of the vaccine. 42% have received the first dose in the Central Division, 56% in the Western Division, 12% in the Eastern Division, and 12% in the Northern Division. 
 
Epidemic Outlook 
The outbreak, based on the number of daily cases, is escalating in the Lami - Nausori containment area, with majority of the cases in the lockdown areas/clusters. The 7 day rolling average of daily cases is now at 68 cases per day. And we have hit another daily record of cases today. This was not unexpected, and daily case numbers are expected to increase further. The detection of a new cluster in the Korovou area, outside the containment zones is a cause for concern.  While we continue to respond to new cases and monitor the outbreak closely, our mitigation measures to cater for severe illness are presently able to cater for our current caseload. With the rising case numbers, the risk of an increase in severe cases is high but there are contingency measures in place to respond accordingly. 

Advice to the public
Our advice to the public remains the same. Please do all you can to protect yourselves and your loved ones from this virus. Stay at home as much as possible. If you have to leave your home: wear a mask, keep at least 2 metres between yourselves and others outside your household, frequently wash your hands with soap and water, or an alcohol based hand sanitiser. Turn on your careFiji App and bluetooth. Behave as if anyone you encounter outside your home may have the virus. Don’t attend social gatherings. Don’t drink grog with anyone outside your household. Don’t invite anyone home. And please get vaccinated. It will reduce your risk of contracting the virus and help protect you from severe disease and death if you do get infected with COVID-19. 

-ENDS-