Community transmission of COVID-19 in the North is to be expected – Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says community transmission of COVID-19 in the North is to be expected however they anticipate that the number of cases and cases with severe disease will be less than that seen with the outbreak in Viti Levu, because of higher vaccination coverage.

He says within Viti Levu, the outbreak was contained in the Lami to Nausori containment area long enough to allow for escalation of vaccination coverage and clinical response capacity outside the containment area.

Doctor Fong adds this contributed to the lower peak and the total number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths outside the containment area within Viti Levu.

He says they expect to see the same trend in the Northern division especially if COVID-19 safe measures are consistently adhered to.