A new daily record has been set for Fiji as 279 new COVID-19 cases have been announced as of 8am yesterday while four COVID-19 related deaths have been confirmed.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says out of the new cases, 46 are from existing containment zones or quarantine facilities in Nadi.
22 of these cases are from Nawajikuma, 8 are from Tramline, and 16 are close contacts in quarantine facilities.
Doctor Fong says the remaining 233 cases are from the Lami-Nausori Containment Zone, 196 of which are from existing areas of concern.
He says this means they are either from known clusters or they have a potential link to an existing case.
All 279 of these new patients are currently in isolation at home or in a facility.
Doctor Fong says the first two deaths were announced yesterday as being under investigation to determine if they were caused by COVID-19.
The first death was a 57-year-old man who was admitted to the CWM Hospital for a pre-existing non-COVID medical condition.
Doctor Fong says the man tested positive during his admission.
The second was a 66-year-old woman who was declared dead on arrival to the Emergency Department at CWM Hospital. In accordance with protocol, the woman was swabbed and tested positive for COVID-19. Their doctors have now confirmed that COVID-19 caused the deaths of both these individuals.
Doctor Fong says the third death was a 62-year-old man from Nausori. He was referred to the CWM Hospital on Tuesday from Nausori Health Centre in severe respiratory distress. He says the man had obvious signs and symptoms of severe COVID-19 and he tested positive later in the day. Despite the efforts of the medical team at CWM Hospital, he died on Tuesday afternoon.
The Permanent Secretary says the fourth death is a 77-year-old woman who had been admitted at CWM Hospital for a pre-existing non-COVID medical condition. She tested positive during her admission and died yesterday. Her doctors have confirmed that she died due to COVID-19.
There are nine other patients admitted at CWM Hospital with severe cases of COVID-19. One of these patients is a 30-year-old with no pre-existing illness.
Doctor Fong says 24 days ago they locked down CWM Hospital to protect its vulnerable patient population.
He says these newly admitted COVID cases are exactly why they made that decision.
However, he says that measure came at great cost, as there are specialty health services within CWM Hospital that are no longer fully available to those who need them.
Doctor Fong says the visiting AUSMAT team’s first priority is working with their teams at CWM Hospital to strengthen their infection control protocols so that COVID and non-COVID care are both available to the public.
According to the official COVID-19 dashboard, the active cases are in Toorak, Muanikau, Flagstaff, Laucala Bay, Raiwaqa, Bainiwai, Raiwasa, Vatuwaqa, Samabula, Nabua, Namadi Heights, Wailea, Kinoya, Tamavua, Nadera, Wainivula, Nasole, Nuffield in Tamavua, Wailoku, Navesi, Valelevu, Muanikoso, Narere, Makoi, Nakasi, Nausori, Noco, Wainibokasi, Naililili, Luvuluvu, Davuilevu, Colo-i-Suva, Sawani, Waila, Adi Davila Road, Wainibuku, Naqeledamu, Mokani, Namara, Baulevu, Koronivia, Korovou, Naitasiri, Laselevu, Kuku/Raralevu, Wailoku, Lami and Suvavou.
In Nadi, there are cases in Nawaka, Double Tree Quarantine Facility, Mercure Hotel Quarantine Facility, Tanoa Skylode Hotel Quarantine Facility, Nasau Resort Villas Quarantine Facility, Tanoa Quarantine Facility, Airport Apartments Quarantine Facilities and the Hilton Resort Quarantine Facility.
There are also active cases in Drasa Vitogo and Vitogo Parade in Lautoka.
There is also a case now at the Outrigger quarantine facility in Sigatoka.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the COVID-19 virus is a killer that no Fijian can afford to treat lightly, and we must fully vaccinate all of our adult population as quickly as possible.
Doctor Fong says they know from extensive evidence, including from Public Health England, that vaccines offer excellent protection against hospitalisation and death from the virus, including against the Delta variant present in Fiji.
He says the vaccines they have reserved for every Fijian offer at least 92% protection against hospitalisation, which is remarkable, but the vaccine requires two doses to offer that protection, not one dose.
Doctor Fong says it takes an additional two weeks after the second dose for the full protection from the virus to set in.
He also confirms that of the four confirmed COVID deaths reported yesterday, none were fully vaccinated against the virus.
Three were not vaccinated at all and one had received only one dose of a vaccine.
The Permanent Secretary says this means two doses for every eligible Fijian.
Doctor Fong says if you have already received one dose, please come forward for dose number two.
If you have not had the chance to be vaccinated, he says the Health Ministry will make that opportunity available to you soon.
He says thanks to our diplomatic efforts, and the support of India, Australia and New Zealand, we have enough vaccines on the way for every adult in Fiji.
So far, more than 280,000 Fijians have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
More than 18,000 are already fully-vaccinated.
Doctor Fong says of the nearly 300,000 people which have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, there are zero deaths caused by a COVID-19 vaccine in Fiji.
He says every report of an adverse event has been thoroughly investigated.
The Permanent Secretary says no serious ill effects have been linked to the vaccine. He says that is in line with the global data that shows the risk of such an adverse event is extremely low.
Of the 2,479 cases detected in this outbreak, 11 Fijians have died from the virus.
Doctor Fong asks everyone to please do the math.
He says this virus is a killer, the risk that it claims more lives is huge.
The Permanent Secretary says in contrast, vaccines offer us huge protection and we need that protection urgently.
75 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded for Qauia in Lami in the 24 hours to 8am yesterday and expect more cases as more tested positive throughout yesterday.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says they have instituted a targeted containment programme for the community in Qauia.
He says they have relied on this tool many times through this outbreak and they have learned some important lessons about how they achieve success against this highly transmissible variant, particularly in how they limit transmission within containment zones.
While speaking directly to the families living in Qauia and other informal settlements that are under containment protocols, Doctor Fong says when you are still within your community, you must do your utmost to protect your bubbles and stay within your houses. He says many in your communities, including the elderly and those living with underlying health conditions, even some young people, could be killed by the virus.
Doctor Fong says they have to protect these Fijians, that is the Health Ministry’s mission and he calls on these communities to please make it yours as well.
He also says as soon as you step through the doors of your houses, you are at-risk of becoming infected.
Wear a mask or face covering, do not gather with others and the people who share your home are the only people with whom you should share close contact.
Doctor Fong says they cannot send authorities into every community every hour of the day to enforce those rules.
He says that responsibility rests with you, and the Ministry will play it’s role.
Doctor Fong says they will make sure the affected people are provided with groceries and household essentials.
He says none of us face easy choices in this outbreak but we obviously have to avoid any unnecessary loss of life.
The Permanent Secretary says they are counting on you and every Fijian to adopt COVID-safe behaviour, maintain that discipline and, when it is your turn, be vaccinated.
For those who do not reside in targeted containment areas, some people have asked Doctor Fong about the rules regarding outdoor exercise.
He says as the Fiji Police clarified this week, outdoor exercise is allowed so long as you wear a mask and only interact with members of your own household.
Doctor Fong says we can’t risk contact sports, we can’t risk any activity that puts people in close contact with others but we know that physical fitness is vitally important to keep ourselves healthy.
He says he also saw the footage of the brawl in Jittu Estate in Suva.
Doctor Fong says there were no winners of that fight except for the virus itself.
He says these outbursts of violence are never acceptable and they have never posed a greater risk to the wellbeing of our people than today.
Doctor Fong says if even one of the dozens involved in the altercation was carrying the virus, every member of that community was placed at risk, the officers involved in breaking up the fight were put at risk, as were their colleagues and members of their families.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says they have detected two cases of unknown origin in Lautoka.
Doctor Fong says they have not linked these cases which are a mother and her daughter, to any known clusters.
He says both patients have been securely moved into an isolation facility in Nadi.
Doctor Fong says thanks to the contact tracing investigations through the careFIJI app, which both patients used regularly, they have identified 47 contacts.
He says no areas in Lautoka have been entered under containment protocol as of now.
Meanwhile Doctor Fong says you may have seen the new digital map they developed that shows the locations of active COVID-19 cases in Fiji.
He says they will update it daily as a general guide of serious hotspots of transmission.
Doctor Fong says this tool is useful, but don’t let it lull you into complacency just because your community does not lie within a hotspot.
He stresses every area in Fiji faces some level of risk due to how fast this virus, and this variant in particular, can spread.
Health Ministry's Chief Medical Advisor Doctor Jemesa Tudravu says through their learnings from previous lockdowns, the lockdown in Qauia now provides the opportunity for them to better their efforts through a more collaborative approach with members of the community, government agencies, front-liners and civil society organisations.
Tudravu says they met with front-line teams, disciplined forces and others today to ensure they are collaborating more with those that are providing services including social service support for the provision of food, household items, hygiene kits and other items.
Tudravu also confirms that they have separated the West Wing of the CWM Hospital to become the COVID part of the hospital and East Wing becoming green zone with specialist functions such as laboratory and radiology services and operating threatre.
He says Nadi Hospital will reopen this Friday.
Tudravu says all their staff have tested negative through a series of testing and are ready to report to duty.
The Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says any discussions of a broader lockdown apart from the targeted lockdown that they have, needs to be part of a broader discussion and is beyond the Ministry of Health, adding that they have given the advice they need to give.
Doctor Fong highlighted this when questioned if they will be conducting more targeted area lockdowns with the increase in the number of COVID cases and if they are also looking at a larger lockdown area like the whole of Lami.
He says one of the lessons that he has learnt is that if the Ministry tries to do a lockdown, they cannot control the other variables that are involved.
While responding to a question on whether Dr. Fong as the Permanent Secretary of Health has advised the Prime Minister of the need to have a nationwide lockdown as the cases of COVID-19 escalate, Dr.Fong says they have given the advice that they needed to give.
Doctor Fong also says one thing they have learned is that a lot of people need support to be COVID-safe and no amount of lockdown will keep them safe from COVID-19.
He says because they have developed better capacity to support these lockdowns, they are now mobilizing in a coordinated manner to be able to supplement the needs of those who are in these lockdown areas.
The Permanent Secretary adds they continue to escalate the mitigation measures that will reduce the worst impact of the disease.
Dr Fong says it is a difficult battle that cannot be won overnight.
He has also stressed that this pandemic is unlikely to go away completely.
The Health Ministry's Head of Health Protection Doctor Aalisha Sahukhan says what they were afraid of and warned would happen when this outbreak started two months ago is now happening.
She says the daily case numbers will only increase.
Doctor Sahukhan adds she knows most of you will be asking how many more cases a day can we expect.
She says they are working with the World Health Organisation on mathematical modelling to give them a projection.
The Head of Health Protection says they can also look to other countries to see how they weathered their outbreaks last year and this year to give them a comparison.
Doctor Sahukhan says for India - at the peak of the outbreak that happened in May, they went to 280 cases per million population per day.
She says for the United Kingdom - at the peak of their outbreak, they went to 800 cases per million population per day.
Doctor Sahukhan revealed that right now, Fiji is sitting at 187 cases per million population per day or 166 cases per day.
She says if our daily cases rise to a peak that is similar to the United Kingdom, we should approximately expect 700 cases per day or more.
Doctor Sahukhan stresses there are a number of factors that can affect this and it does not mean that we are going to hit that number.
She says if we look at other countries and compare, it gives them something to look out for.
Doctor Sahukhan says beyond the cases, what they worry about the most is the severe cases that cause hospitalisation and the deaths.
She has revealed that our national seven day daily test positivity has risen to up to 4.9%, so we are just below the 5% World Health Organisation threshold that indicates widespread community transmission.
Doctor Sahukhan says there have been 13 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji and 11 of these deaths were during the outbreak that started in April this year.
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