Active cases in the North of Fiji remain at one mid-way into the 14-day lockdown of Nabouwalu, as cases in the eastern division increases to 135 after four new infections on Kadavu that were among 591 reported overnight during which the Ministry of Health also announced six deaths, five of whom died at home including a 20-year-old woman.
The four new cases on Kadavu were reported in Namalata village, situated close to the Vunisea Hospital where the death of the island’s index case was recorded.
There were also 498 new cases reported in the western division, and in the central division, 89.
Transmission Update
There have been 616 new recoveries reported since the last update. This means that there are now 19,062 active cases, 51% of which are in the central division, and 48.3% in the West.
There have been 44,118 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021, and a total of 44,188 cases since the first case in March 2020. There have been 24,425 recoveries for the same period.
Deaths
Of the six deaths, three was reported in Tailevu and three in the western division, in Rakiraki. None was fully vaccinated.
- COVID-19 Deaths
- 16 August
- Female, 20, Rakiraki
- Partially vaccinated having received the first dose in mid-July
- Died at home
- 20 August
- Female, 50, Tailevu
- Unvaccinated
- Died at home
- 21 August
- Female, 72, Rakiraki
- Partially vaccinated, having received her first dose in mid-August.
- Died at home
- Male, 72, Tailevu
- Partially vaccinated having received the first dose in mid-July
- Died at home
- Female, 72, Rakiraki
- 22 August
- Male, 44, Tailevu
- Unvaccinated
- He presented to the CWM Hospital in severe respiratory distress on 19 August
- Male, 71, Rakiraki
- Unvaccinated
- Died at home
- Male, 44, Tailevu
- With the newly reported deaths, there have now been 444 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 442 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year.
Non-COVID Deaths
There have been four more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients due to other medical conditions and not COVID-19, bringing to 257 the number of COVID positive patients who have died in similar circumstances.
Hospitalisations
There are currently 279 COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital, 17 less compared to the previous update. Of this, 110 patients are admitted at the Lautoka Hospital (four less than previous update), 39 patients are admitted at the FEMAT field hospital (increase by 1), and 130 (decreased by 14) admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi. 26 patients are considered to be in severe condition( six more), and 14 are in critical condition (six less).
Testing update
A total of 320,029 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 362,890 tested since testing began in March 2020. A total of 1,759 tests were carried out on 22 August, 303 returned positive results (17.2%). In comparison, 1613 tests were carried out 21 August, 198 or 12% of which turning out positive.
The testing data from one lab is still being received. Therefore, testing data numbers are expected to increase. The 7-day daily test average is 1637 tests per day or 1.8 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 31.5%.
Vaccination Update
No new vaccination was available as of 8am 23 August therefore as it stands, data from 21 August still holds – with 543,254 adults or 92.6% of the target population having received their first dose of the vaccine and 234,905 (40%) have received their second dose and thus deemed full vaccinated.
Epidemic Outlook
The 7-day average of new cases per day is 514 cases per day or 581 cases per million population per day. Previous day’s 7-day average was 480 cases per day or 542 cases per million population per day.
