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Media Release 

COVID-19 Daily Update

Friday, 10th September 2021

Transmission Update

We have 143 new cases of COVID-19 to report for the 24 hour period that ended at 8am yesterday. 76 cases are from the Western Division, 59 cases are from the Central Division and 8 cases from the Eastern Division.

There have been 93 new recoveries to report since the last update, which means that there are now 13,407 active cases. 2,238 active cases are in the Central Division, 10,871 active cases in the Western Division, 5 active cases in the Northern Division (Macuata) and 293 active cases in the Eastern Division (all in Kadavu). We are currently reviewing and reconciling our active case database with recoveries and as a result we expect the recovery numbers to intermittently change markedly as verifications are made.

There have been 48,645 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 48,715 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 34,411 recoveries.

Deaths

There is one new COVID-19 death to report today. The one death reported today is from the Western Division.

The new COVID-19 death to report today is a 36 year old man from Lautoka. He presented to the Lautoka Hospital in severe respiratory distress. Sadly, he died one day after admission on the 24/08/2021. He received the 1st dose of the vaccine in early-July. He did not receive the second dose of the vaccine. This means that he was not fully vaccinated.

4 more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients were recorded however, these deaths have been classified as non-COVID deaths by their doctors. The doctors have determined that these deaths were caused by a serious pre-existing medical condition and not COVID-19.

There have now been 534 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 532 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year. Please note that due to the time required by clinical teams to investigate, classify and report deaths, a 4-day interval is given to calculate the 7 day rolling average of deaths, based on date of death, in order to help ensure the data collected is complete before the average is reported. Therefore, as of September 5th the national 7 day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths per day is 3. The 7 day rolling average for COVID-19 deaths per day in the Central Division is 1 and in the Western Division is 2.

We also have recorded 363 COVID-19 positive patients who died from the serious medical conditions that they had before they contracted COVID-19; these are not classified as COVID-19 deaths.

Hospitalisations

There are currently 142 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital. 60 patients are admitted at the Lautoka Hospital, 7 patients are admitted at the FEMAT field hospital, and 75 admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi. 13 patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 5 are in critical condition.

Screening Update

A total of 6,139 individuals were screened and 526 swabbed at our stationary screening clinics in the last 24 hours, bringing our cumulative total to 562,053 individuals screened and 93,106 swabbed to date. Our mobile screening teams screened a total of 1,527 individuals and swabbed 21. This brings our cumulative total to 826,503 individuals screened and 73,394 swabbed by our mobile teams.

Testing Update

A total of 344,769 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 387,630 tested since testing began in March 2020. 1430 tests have been reported for September 9th. The 7-day daily test average is 1,172 tests per day or 1.3 tests per 1,000 population. Weekly testing is at 10.3 tests per 1000 population, which remains above the WHO recommended level of 4 per 1000 population per week. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 16.2%, which is on a downward trend, but still indicating a high level of community transmission.

Vaccination Update

As of the 09th September 568,246 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 329,849 have received their second doses. This means that 96.9% of the target population have received at least one dose and 56.2% are now fully vaccinated nationwide.

Fijians can check the Ministry’s vaccine dashboard to find real-time data on first-dose and second-dose numbers at the national, divisional and sub-divisional levels. You can access the live dashboard at http://bit.ly/3h2JfCZ

Epidemic Outlook

The 7-day average of new cases per day is 172 cases per day or 195 cases per million population per day. As previously announced by the Permanent Secretary, daily case numbers in Suva-Nausori are currently not being used as the sole indicator to monitor progress of the outbreak. The Ministry is closely monitoring other indicators such as test positivity, hospitalisations and deaths to track the progress of the outbreak.

With the decrease in testing numbers, testing remains above the WHO recommended rate of 4 per 1000 population per week (or approx. 3500 tests per week). We will be transitioning to community surveillance testing as severe disease numbers and positivity rates approach the containment phase levels.

Public Updates:

The lockdown of the Namara Tiri Area in Vanua Levu has been lifted as of 4am today, Friday 10th September 2021, after day 1, 4 and 12 testings for the primary contacts, and the 181 secondary contacts were all negative for COVID-19. A total of 692 surveillance swabbing was conducted both inside and outside the containment area which also returned negative test results. The three remaining active cases are stable. Vaccination coverage in the Namara Tiri containment area was 98%, and residents have been reminded to get their 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccination when due 8 weeks after the first dose. We take this opportunity to thank the residents of the Namara Tiri area and the public of Labasa for cooperating with all the Northern frontline team, however you are reminded of the importance of maintaining COVID-19 safe measures even after the lifting of movement restrictions in the containment zone. These measures include wearing a mask each time you leave your home, washing your hands regularly with soap and water, practicing safe physical distancing of 2m, covering your cough and sneeze and ensuring careFIJI app is downloaded, with Bluetooth enabled. The curfew hours for Labasa moves back to 11pm – 4am, effective Friday 10th September 2021.

Kadavu recorded 8 new cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of cases to 463. All villages remain on movement restrictions enforced by the Police and the Vanua, while the village of Tawava and the seven villages of Yale Tikina are on strict lockdown. Seven patients are admitted at Vunisea, four of whom due to COVID-19 and are stable, and three Non-COVID patients. The outreach teams continue to visit the villages and communities undertaking follow up of primary contacts, monitoring of positive patients and clearance, roll out of COVID-19 vaccination, maternal and child health clinic and vaccination, and consultation with medicine replenishment. The specialist clinical team provided Obstetric, Medical and Paediatric clinics at Daviqele health centre. Community education and awareness sessions on COVID safe measures and observance of movement restrictions continue, and 14 infringement notices have been issued for ongoing breaches of these restrictions on the island.

No new cases were recorded for Malolo island in the last 24 hours and the 25 active cases remain stable. Daily surveillance and screening are ongoing for the villages, and movement restrictions remain in force for the island.

Naviti island did not record any new cases in the last 24 hours. The 109 active cases remain under daily assessment while surveillance continues for the contacts and villagers in the seven settlements and villages. Movement restrictions remain in force for the villages in the island.