Fiji recorded 1,204 new recoveries – eclipsing previous highs and for the third consecutive time in a week, however, it was overshadowed by the death of 11 more people including a 21-year-old man who died within a day of experiencing shortness of breath.
The previous high was only recorded yesterday at 1113, results that Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong told Mai TV was “not unexpected.”
“The recoveries are more because we caught up with some of our data,” Dr Fong said. “It’s not unexpected given that 80% of cases are mild.”
Fiji’s recovery rate increases to 32% with much of the recoveries occurring in the central division, but it is shrouded by increasing reports of death including amongst young people such as the 21-year-old man from Malake Island who died enroute to the hospital.
Like the other 10 newly announced victims of COVID-19, the young man was not fully vaccinated, having received his first dose in May, and one of nine people who did not make it to a health facility on time, dying either at home or on their way to the hospital. The 21-year-old was also one of two deaths recorded in the West.
DEATHS
- 50-year-old woman, Lautoka.
- Declared dead on arrival at the Lautoka Hospital.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 65-year-old man, Nasinu
- Died at home on 3 August.
- He was not vaccinated.
- 75-year-old man, Suva
- Died at home on 2 August
- He was not vaccinated.
- 68-year-old woman, Kinoya
- Died at home on 31 July
- She was not vaccinated.
- 78-year-old woman, Tailevu.
- Presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress.
- Her condition worsened at the medical facility
- Died on the same day on 3 August.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 71-year-old man, Tailevu
- Died at home on 31 July.
- He was not vaccinated.
- 53-year-old woman, Nasinu.
- Presented to the CWM Hospital Emergency Department in severe respiratory distress.
- Her condition worsened at the hospital and she died on 3 August, one day after admission.
- She was not vaccinated
- 44-year-old man, Suva
- Died at home on 4 August.
- He was not vaccinated.
- 60-year woman, Caubati
- Died at home on 4 August.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 61-year-old woman, Makoi
- Died at home on 4 August.
- She was not vaccinated.
Three other COVID-19 patients also died but their deaths have been classified as non-COVID by attending doctors.
With the newly reported deaths, there have now been 272 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 270 of these during the outbreak that started in April this year. The 7-day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths per day is 7. Total deaths of COVID-19 patients attributed to pre-existing health conditions other than COVID-19 increases to 142.
NEW/TOTAL/ACTIVE CASES Breakdown
1187 new cases of COVID-19 were reported for the 24-hour period as of 8 am yesterday. Of the new cases, 387 are from the western division, mostly from Lautoka, and 800 are from the central division – occurring largely between Suva and Koronivia.
Having accounted for the new recoveries and the 14 deaths, there are 22,658 active cases of which 81% are in the central division and the balance in the West. There are no active cases in the northern and eastern divisions at the moment.
There have been 33,850 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 33,920 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 10,848 recoveries.
HOSPITALISATIONS
In the Central Division: There are currently 254 COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital. 79 patients are admitted at the FEMAT field hospital, and 175 were admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi. 46 patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 10 are in critical condition. Hospital admission data for the Western Division is awaiting an update.
SCREENING UPDATE
A total of 5,586 individuals were screened and 766 swabbed at stationary screening clinics in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 405,538 individuals screened and 72,528 swabbed to date. As of 3 August, the mobile screening teams screened a total of 1,803 individuals and swabbed 201. This brings the cumulative total to 774, 106 individuals screened and 68,371 swabbed.
TESTING UPDATE
A total of 283,885 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 326,746 tested since testing began in March 2020. 3504 tests have been reported for August 02nd. Based on available data the national 7-day daily test average is 3388 tests per day or 3.8 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 32 %.
EPIDEMIC OUTLOOK
The 7-day average of new cases per day is 1103 cases per day or 1247 cases per million population per day. Daily cases numbers remain high, and daily test positivity remains high, indicating ongoing widespread community transmission in the Suva-Nausori containment zone. Cases are also increasing in the West with evidence of community transmission in that division. We are also recording increasing numbers of people with severe disease and deaths in the West. The northern and eastern divisions currently have no active cases.
