Fiji’s COVID-19 death toll increased to 27 after health officials confirmed the deaths of two unvaccinated females including a 24-year-old who became Fiji’s youngest COVID-19 fatality – on the same day it recorded the highest single-day recoveries.
The 24-year-old’s demise was one of three unconfirmed deaths announced yesterday. According to health officials, the deceased from Wainibokasi in Nausori was admitted to the CWM Hospital for a serious non-COVID medical condition where she later tested positive.
The second victim, a 66-year-old woman from Valelevu was declared dead on arrival at the emergency department at CWM Hospital. She had been feeling unwell at home, health officials say. Three other people, in the current outbreak,- two females and a male – also reportedly died under the same circumstance.
The death of another positive patient is also under investigation to determine if COVID-19 was the cause of death.
In the same reporting period ending 8 am today in which Fiji amassed 386 new infections, a total of 131 positive patients reportedly recovered – the country’s highest daily recovery, bringing the recoveries tally to 1101.
Of the 27 deaths in Fiji to date, 25 happened during the outbreak that started in April this year. Twelve other COVID-19 positive patients also died during the outbreak, but their deaths were attributed to pre-existing medical conditions. Three deaths are under investigation to determine the cause of death.
Testing update
A total of 166,501 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 209,362 tested since testing began in early 2020. For 1 July, 3240 tests were reported. This number is expected to increase as recent testing numbers from one laboratory has not yet been received. The national 7-day daily test average is 3,055 tests per day or 3.5 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 10.2% and continues on an upward trend.
Vaccination Update
To date, 315,898 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 51,408 have received their second doses.
Epidemic Outlook
The 7-day average of new cases per day has increased to 330 cases per day or 373 cases per million population per day. As expected, with the increasing case numbers there has also been an increasing number of people with severe disease and more deaths in the Suva-Nausori containment zone.
