Health officials in Fiji are predicting more hospitalisation and more deaths in the coming weeks as daily death and case numbers continue to increase with new infections detected in new localities on Viti Levu.
Three hundred and twelve (312) new coronavirus infections were announced yesterday evening, of which 295 was reported from within the Lami-Suva-Nausori containment zone and 17 recorded in the western division, including two cases in Tavua and 11 in Lautoka.
“The increase in average daily case numbers among other indicators suggest higher daily numbers of cases, hospitalisations, and deaths in the coming weeks, particularly in the Central and Western divisions The 7-day average of new cases per day has increased to 269 cases per day or 304 cases per million population per day. There has also been a notable increase in positive patients with severe disease, as well as an increase in deaths,” Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong said.
Until more Fijians are protected through vaccination, there are important steps that must be taken to strengthen our capacity to identify and treat those most vulnerable to the severe disease and death due to COVID-19, including efforts to raise public awareness of COVID-like symptoms, he said.
The symptoms of COVID-19 may start mild, with a runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, fever, headache, body ache, or diarrhoea. However, for some people, this could quickly worsen into severe COVID. Severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency and we should all know symptoms. The symptoms 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, grey, or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds.If you or a loved one have any of these symptoms please go to your nearest health centre immediately.
PS Health Dr james fong
- Four new COVID-19 deaths.
- The first was previously announced as under investigation to determine if COVID-19 was the cause of death. This is an 82-year-old woman from Qauia in Lami. She had pre-existing medical conditions, was bedridden, and died at home. She was swabbed and tested positive for COVID-19. She was declared dead by the attending medical officer. Other members of her household have also tested positive. She was not vaccinated.
- The second death was a 68-year-old man from Toorak, who was admitted to CWM Hospital after presenting to the FEMAT field hospital on 24 June in severe respiratory distress and testing positive. He died Monday, 28 June in the intensive care unit. He was not vaccinated.
- The third death was a 39-year-old woman from Knolly St. who tested positive and was admitted to CWM Hospital after having severe symptoms of COVID-19 at home, including shortness of breath. She died Monday 28 June in the intensive care unit. She had received her first dose of the vaccine this month. She was not fully vaccinated.
- The fourth is a 70-year-old man from Veisari Lami who presented in respiratory distress and died on Monday night at the Raiwaqa Health Centre. According to protocol he was swabbed and tested positive. His doctors have determined that his death was caused by COVID-19. He was not vaccinated.
- Death of a COVID19 Patient linked to pre-existing illness
- A 54-year-old male who tested positive for COVID-19 at CWMH also died. He was admitted to the hospital for a severe pre-existing non-COVID-19 illness and it has been determined by his doctors that he died due to that illness and not due to COVID-19. He was not vaccinated.
There have now been 21 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 19 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year. Nine other COVID-19 positive patients died, but from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses that they had been receiving treatment for at the CWM Hospital.
- Testing update
- A total of 154,009 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 196,870 tested since testing began in early 2020. The national 7-day daily test average is 3026 tests per day or 3.4 tests per 1000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 8.3% and continues on an upward trend.
- Vaccination Update
- A total of 8,194 first doses and 1,794-second doses of the vaccine were administered nationally in the last 24 hours. To date, 287,148 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 45,139 have received their second doses. This equates to 49% of the target population has had at least one dose and 7.69% being fully vaccinated nationwide.
Fiji has 3306 active cases in isolation. There have been 4074 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021, and a total of 4144 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020.
