Media Release
COVID-19 Daily Update
Monday, 09 August 2021
Transmission Update
We have 603 new cases of COVID-19 to report for the 24 hour period that ended at 8am today. 223 cases are from the Western Division and 380 cases are from the Central Division. A full breakdown of areas of interest will be published online tonight on the Ministry’s COVID-19 dashboard and on the Fijian Government Facebook page. You will also be able to view the approximate locations of new cases, active cases, and recovered cases on the dashboard at the following link: http://bit.ly/3vE2ZBb.
There have been 293 new recoveries reported since the last update, which means that there are now 24,420 active cases. 19,088 active cases are in the Central Division and 5,332 in the West. All cases that were recorded in the Northern and Eastern Divisions (cases that were imported from Viti Levu) have recovered and there are no active cases currently in those divisions.
There have been 37,512 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 37, 582 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 12,677 recoveries.
Deaths
We have 18 new COVID-19 deaths to report for the period of 04th August to 09th August. Twelve deaths were reported from the Western Division and seven deaths were reported from the Central Division.
The first COVID-19 death to report is an 83 year old man from Lautoka. He presented to the Lautoka hospital in severe respiratory distress. He died four days after admission to hospital on 06/08/2021. He was not vaccinated.
The second COVID-19 death to report is a 79 year old woman from Sigatoka. She was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the Sigatoka Sub-Divisional Hospital on 06/08/2021. This means that she died at home or on her way to the hospital. She was not vaccinated.
The third COVID-19 death to report is an 86 year old man from Sigatoka. He was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the Sigatoka Sub-Divisional Hospital on 05/08/2021. This means that he died at home or on his way to the hospital. He was not vaccinated.
The fourth COVID-19 death to report is a 70 year old man from Nadi. He presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress. His condition worsened in the medical facility and he died on the same day (07/08/2021). He was not vaccinated.
The fifth COVID-19 death to report is a 75 year old man from Lautoka. He was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the Lautoka Hospital on 06/08/2021. This means that he died at home or on his way to the hospital. He was not vaccinated.
The sixth COVID-19 death to report is an 83 year old woman from Lautoka. She was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the Lautoka Hospital on 06/08/2021. This means that she died at home or on her way to the hospital. She was not vaccinated.
The seventh COVID-19 death to report is an 80 year old man from Lautoka. He was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the Lautoka Hospital on 06/08/2021. This means that he died at home or on his way to the hospital. He was not vaccinated.
The eighth COVID-19 death to report is an 88 year old man from Ba. He presented to the Ba Mission Hospital in respiratory distress. He died two days after admission at the hospital on 07/08/2021. He was not vaccinated.
The ninth COVID-19 death to report is a 49 year old man from Nadi. He was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the Nadi Hospital on 08/08/2021. This means that he died at home or on his way to the hospital. He was not vaccinated.
The tenth COVID-19 death to report is a 37 year old woman from Nadi. She presented to Nadi hospital in severe respiratory distress. She was reported to have had symptoms of cough and shortness of breath for 5 days, and she had recently given birth. A medical team retrieved her and brought her to the Lautoka Hospital. She died five days after admission to hospital on 07/08/2021. She was not vaccinated.
The eleventh COVID-19 death to report is a 48 year old man from Lautoka. He presented to the Lautoka Hospital in severe respiratory distress. He died two days after admission on 08/08/2021. He was not vaccinated.
The twelfth COVID-19 death to report is a 60 year old woman from Dawasamu. She presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress. She died on the same day at the medical facility (06/08/2021). She was not vaccinated.
The thirteenth COVID-19 death to report is a 63 year old man from Nakasi who died at home on the 07/08/2021. He was not vaccinated.
The fourteenth COVID-19 death to report is a 70 year old woman from Nakasi. She presented to the CWM Hospital in severe respiratory distress. She died 5 days after admission on 08/08/2021. She was not vaccinated.
The fifteenth COVID-19 death to report is a 68 year old man from Nasinu who died at home on the 09/08/2021. He was not vaccinated.
The sixteenth COVID-19 death to report is a 72 year old woman from Nausori who died at home on the 07/08/2021. She was not vaccinated.
The seventeenth COVID-19 death to report is an 88 year old woman from Naitasiri who died at home on the 08/08/2021. She was not vaccinated.
The eighteenth COVID-19 death to report is an 81 year old woman from Naitasiri who died at home on the 08/08/2021. She was not vaccinated.
There have been 10 more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients. However, these deaths have been classified as non-COVID deaths by their doctors. Doctors have determined that their deaths were caused by serious pre-existing medical conditions and not COVID-19.
With today’s newly reported deaths, there have now been 317 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 315 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year. The 7 day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths per day is 7. We also have recorded 168 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 289 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital. 58 patients are admitted to the Lautoka Hospital, 68 patients are admitted at the FEMAT field hospital, and 163 admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi. 66 patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 6 are in critical condition.
Screening Update
A total of 930 individuals were screened and 176 swabbed at our stationary screening clinics in the last 24 hours, bringing our cumulative total to 425,998 individuals screened and 75,689 swabbed to date. As of the 07th August our mobile screening teams screened a total of 1,500 individuals and swabbed 309. This brings our cumulative total to 782,343 individuals screened and 69,051 swabbed by our mobile teams.
Testing update
A total of 296,716 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 339,577 tested since testing began in March 2020. 1550 tests have been reported for August 7th. Pending testing number data from one lab has been received for August 5-6th. The 7-day daily test average is 2795 tests per day or 3.2 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 34.1 %.
Vaccination Update
As of the 08th August 512, 282 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 178,606 have received their second doses. This means that 87.3% of the target population have received at least one dose and 30.4% 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 867 cases per day or 980 cases per million population per day. Daily cases numbers remain high, and daily test positivity remains high, indicating ongoing widespread community transmission in the Suva-Nausori containment zone. Cases are also increasing in the West with evidence of widespread community transmission in that division. We are also recording increasing numbers of people with severe disease, and deaths in the West. The Northern and Eastern Divisions currently have no active cases.
Advice to the public
COVID-19 health services in the Western Division.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to inform the public that due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the Western Division, it is necessary to adjust the current health services strategy for the division in Mitigation Phase.
Residents for the whole of the Western Division from the Nadroga medical subdivision to the Ra medical subdivision are requested to note that the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will, in the coming days, be varying its public advisories and guidelines to reflect the evolving COVID-19 situation
Some of the initial changes in this Mitigation Phase are below, and they strictly apply to members of the public in the Western division only:
Screening and Testing
Individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms: cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, fatigue/extreme tiredness, headache, aches and pains, sore throat, fever, diarrhea, red eyes (conjunctivitis), loss of taste or smell, a rash on the skin should visit the nearest screening clinic for testing.
Individuals who test positive will be provided immediate advice and care by the health teams at the screening facility.
Pregnant Women
Pregnant women experiencing COVID-19 symptoms: cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, fatigue/extreme tiredness, headache, aches and pains, sore throat, fever, diarrhea, red eyes (conjunctivitis), loss of taste or smell, a rash on the skin, must immediately visit a screening clinic for testing.
Pregnant women who test positive will be provided immediate advice and care by the health teams at the screening facility.
Contact Tracing
The Western Division health teams will no longer carry out contact tracing. Health response teams in the Western Division will now be redirected to the identification and close monitoring of people with COVID-19 symptoms who are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19.
Members of the public who return positive COVID-19 test results will be provided advice and resources to aid their self-isolation at home. COVID-19 positive cases are encouraged to take responsibility and share information and advice to their known primary contacts.
Primary contact testing and clearance
Clearance testing will no longer be required for primary contacts. Primary contacts are required to self-isolate at home for 14-days from the day the known COVID-19 case they had close contact with, tested positive or 14 days from the day of the last contact with a known COVID-19 case.
Workers requiring official leave from work can attend the nearest screening clinic or Health Care Facility to be checked and obtain a medical certificate for 14 days of self-isolation at home.
Additional Information
Families and caregivers of the vulnerable, including the elderly, are urged to monitor the health of their loved ones. If they develop COVID-19 symptoms, please take them to the nearest screening clinic. If an individual has a disability, or is otherwise physically unable to leave their home and attend a screening clinic, in these exceptional circumstances, individuals can call 158 and request a home swabbing service.
The public is advised to please take responsibility to stop community transmission by continuing to practice the following: wear a mask, wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use a hand sanitiser, practice safe physical distancing of 2m apart, cover your cough and sneeze, wipe frequently touched surfaces and objects with disinfectant. Get vaccinated and encourage your family members to vaccinate too. Stay in your bubble and avoid close contact with people who do not live with you.
Businesses are also asked to take responsibility for the decontamination of their premises. Please continue to ensure that the workplace is well ventilated. Encourage your staff to wipe down frequently touched surfaces with disinfectants at least three times a day. Businesses are encouraged to arrange rosters for their employees to ensure safe physical distancing at work. If any employee starts showing symptoms, please ensure they visit a screening clinic and self-isolate at home.
Main Clinical Health facilities
- All major health facilities will continue to remain fully functional in all subdivisions in the West, providing emergency services, admissions, and inpatient care for COVID and non-COVID diseases.
- General outpatient services continue in the health centres.
- SOPD services at Lautoka Hospital are currently suspended. Prescription refills for SOPD clients are available from the Girmit Centre.
- ANC clinics in Lautoka is available at the Girmit Centre, junction of Kings Road and Tavakubu Rd. Appointments for ANC clinics is made with the doctor at your nearest health centre.
Request for food assistance
Individuals who return positive test results for COVID-19 and are immediately asked to self-isolate, will have food ration requests facilitated by the sub-divisional health teams in your area.
Curfew hours
Curfew hours remain from 6pm – 4am.
COVID-19 health services in Suva-Nausori:
If you or someone you are caring for has mild symptoms but is at high risk of severe COVID – in particular individuals over 50 years, have a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, asthma, are obese, or are pregnant – we need you to visit one of our screening clinics and get tested. If you test positive, then we will ensure you are provided immediate care by our health teams.
Community transmission within the Suva-Nausori containment zone is at a very high level. This means that anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 in Suva-Nausori should assume that they have COVID-19. Most people infected with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms like cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, loss of taste or smell, body ache, or headache, and will fully recover at home with no medical intervention necessary. People who have any of these symptoms and are not within a group that is at higher risk for developing severe COVID-19 will no longer be tested for COVID-19, and should stay at home, strictly self-isolate for 14 days, and continue to monitor your symptoms for severe COVID-19.
If you develop any signs of severe COVID-19, like difficulty breathing or chest pain, please go immediately to one of our dedicated health facilities:
- Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH)
- FEMAT Hospital, Vodafone Arena
Individuals in Nausori with severe symptoms should go to:
- Nausori Health Centre
- Wainibokasi Hospital
Call 165 if you are unable to travel to a medical facility.
1.) For symptomatic workers who need official leave from work, they are recommended to attend the nearest screening clinic to be checked and to obtain a medical certificate for the 14 days of home isolation.
2.) Symptomatic workers can also obtain a medical certificate for the 14 days self-isolation at home from participating General Practitioners (GPs).
For people anywhere else in Fiji:
Please call 158 or go to your nearest screening clinic for testing if you have any symptoms of COVID-19. If you do leave your home to go to a screening clinic: please wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose, keep at least 2 metres between yourself and others outside your household, wash your hands with soap and water frequently or use hand sanitiser, and download and activate the careFIJI app if you have a smartphone, and avoid using public transport. Also call 158 if you have been in contact with someone confirmed as a case of COVID-19.