26 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed as of this morning

Fiji has recorded 26 new cases of COVID-19 as of this morning, which brings the total number of cases to 394 during the current outbreak.

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says all these new cases are linked to existing clusters and all are stable and are either in isolation facilities or home isolation.

He says 23 cases are from the Navy cluster, 1 from the Extra Supermarket cluster while 2 cases are from the Nawaka cluster.

There are currently 293 active cases, 17 of these cases are from Nadi, and 276 are within the Lami-Nausori containment zone.

A total of 464 cases have been recorded in Fiji since the first case in March last year.

Doctor Fong says they are also aware of the increasing danger posed to the health facilities and will be escalating the mitigation measures.

This will include setting up field hospitals and more quarantine and isolation facilities.

He says as such, this may involve temporarily taking over assets for this purpose.

Meanwhile the Ministry administered 12,572 first doses and 134-second doses - a total of 12,706 vaccinations across Viti Levu, a record for one day.

Doctor Fong thanked and congratulated all Fijians who braved the rain to get vaccinated and the vaccination teams that made it possible.

148,522 people have received their first dose of the vaccine so far.

This is 28% of the target population, which is people aged 18 years and older in Fiji.

4,251 people, which is 3% of the target population, have received their 2nd dose and are considered fully vaccinated.