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Media Release

COVID-19 Update

Wednesday, June 16th 2021

Transmission Update

We have 121 new cases of COVID-19 to confirm since yesterday’s update. 61 cases are linked to the following existing clusters:

A new cluster has been identified within the Rewa Emergency Operations Centre, possibly linked to the Vunimono cluster; there are 2 new cases to report for this cluster. A new cluster is also at the Town House hotel – where CWMH and IMT staff are being accommodated. There are 19 cases within this cluster – likely linked to the CWMH or IMT clusters.

11 cases have been identified as primary contacts of earlier cases, and the respective response teams are determining the cluster link. The remaining are cases from the following areas that are under investigation to determine whether they have links to other cases: Nasevou St, Lami, Nakoba St, Lami, Delainavesi, Lami, Qauia St, Lami, Naituni, Rewa, Qima Settlement, Nadi, Feeder Rd. Tacirua, Wainivula Rd, Cunningham Stage 4, Ura Place, Toorak, Freshet, Makoi, Bau St Nausori, Toga – Nausori, Nabitu – Nausori, Naduru – Nausori.

21 COVID-19 cases have recovered, which means there are now 1043 active cases in isolation. There have been 1373 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021.

We have recorded a total of 1443 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020. There have been 388 recoveries and 5 deaths due to COVID-19. A total of 7 COVID-19 positive patients have died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses.

Testing Update

A total of 117,221 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 160,082 tested since testing began in early 2020.

2835 tests have been reported for 15 June. The national 7-day daily test average is 3405 tests per day or 3.8 tests per 1000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 2.5%.

Vaccine Update

An additional 70,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will arrive in Fiji from Australia over the next week. The arrival of these vaccines will bring Australia’s total vaccine contribution to Fiji to 250,000 doses out of the one million pledged to Fiji. We’re grateful that the commitment to deliver 40,000 vaccines per month has been exceeded. Australia’s commitment, as well as that of New Zealand, has helped us reserve the full dosage of COVID-19 vaccines for every eligible Fijian. We’re grateful for the expedited commitment of the Australian and New Zealand governments as we contend with this surge in new local cases. We are also grateful to the Indian Government for their initial contribution of 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines.

This week, several US states, including New York and California, have lifted most COVID restrictions. They were able to do so because they have immunised enough of their populations against COVID-19. Fiji’s road to recovery will look much the same. As of today, 42% of Fijians aged 18 and over have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. We are making extremely efficient use of the vaccines we have received, and we thank the more than 246,000 people in Fiji who have come forward to be vaccinated. My teams are committed to continue vaccinating our population and protecting Fijians from this deadly disease. According to a recent study by Public Health England, after both doses, the AstraZeneca vaccine is 92% successful at preventing hospitalization from the Delta variant of COVID-19 present in Fiji. So, we ask those who have received one dose to make sure they receive dose number two, and we encourage every eligible Fijian awaiting their first dose to seize this opportunity to protect themselves.

Epidemic Outlook

The majority of new COVID cases continue to be confirmed within known clusters in areas already under lockdown or are individuals under home quarantine. However, new clusters in new locations do pose a serious risk of wider transmission. We are prepared to mitigate the impact of a larger number of daily case totals and have contingency plans in place to care for patients who develop severe cases of the virus. But it should be noted that this case surge is not inevitable. Widespread public adherence to the health protection measures in-force can limit or stop the spread of COVID-19 entirely and lessen the growing burden on our frontline health officials. Essential movement, when managed in a COVID-safe manner, can occur without moving the virus and without putting you, your loved ones, and your community members at high-risk of becoming infected. If you need to move, wear a mask, wash your hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitiser, install careFIJI on your phones and keep Bluetooth switched on, maintain a strict physical distance of two metres from others, and do not enter closed contained spaces with others. Communities should not wait for a lockdown order to come into effect before adopting this COVID-safe behaviour –– every Fijian must adopt an attitude of vigilance and COVID-safe discipline now to keep themselves healthy.