Fiji announced 653 new coronavirus infections and eight COVID-19 deaths last night, one of the victims was a 54-year-old man of Lautoka who had received both doses of the vaccine.
As with four previous cases, the Ministry of Health said the man was infected with the virus, shortly after receiving the second dose, before two weeks had passed to be considered fully vaccinated and get the full protective effect of the vaccine thereafter.
“He presented to the Lautoka Hospital on 15 August in severe respiratory distress and tested positive for COVID-19. He had a history of a cough and fever for three days prior (12 August), and died one day after admission on 16 August. He received the first dose of the vaccine in early June. He received the second dose of the vaccine on 2 August,” Health Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said.
The new deaths bring to 413 the number of people who have died from the virus in Fiji since 2020 equating to 0.98% of total coronavirus infections for the same period. Non-Covid deaths make up 0.55%. Total recoveries make up 47.5% after 1,088 patients reportedly recovered overnight. Active cases make up 50.9%.
New Cases, Active Cases and Recoveries
Of the 653 new cases, 462 reside in the west division and 191 in the central division.
There have been 1,088 new recoveries reported since the last update, which means that there are now 21,304 active cases. 13,652 active cases are in the central division, 7,651 active cases in the western division and one active case in the northern division. We are currently reviewing and reconciling our active case database with recoveries and as a result, we expect the recovery numbers to increase in the coming weeks.
There have been 41,760 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021, and a cumulative total of 41,830 cases since the first case was reported in March 2020. Total recoveries to date stand at 19,883.
- Deaths (7 others – five in the central and two in the western division – August 14-18)
- August 14
- Male, 78, Tailevu
- Unvaccinated
- Died at home
- August 15
- Male, 84, Navua
- Unvaccinated
- Died at home
- August 16
- Female, 54, Tailevu
- Partially vaccinated, having received the first dose in early August
- Presented to the Korovou Hospital in severe respiratory distress.
- She died the same day
- Female, 86, Sigatoka
- Unvaccinated
- Died at home
- August 17
- Male, 72, Sigatoka
- Partially vaccinated, having received the first dose in early August
- DIed at home
- August 18
- Male, 40, Nausori
- Unvaccinated
- Presented to the CWM Hospital in severe respiratory distress and died 16 days after admission.
- Male, 75, Suva
- Partially vaccinated, having received the first dose in late July
- He was admitted to CWM Hospital, in severe respiratory distress, two days prior to his death
- August 14
There have been seven more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients, for a total of 230, but whose deaths have been classified as non-COVID deaths.
As of 17 August, the national 7-day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths per day is 10. The 7-day rolling average for COVID-19 deaths per day in the Central Division is 4 and in the Western Division is six.
Hospitalisations
There are currently 327 COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital, 124 of them admitted to the Lautoka Hospital, 44 patients at the FEMAT field hospital, and 159 admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi. Fifty-four (54) patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 15 are in critical condition.
