Press Release

COVID-19 Situation Update

Wednesday 26th January 2022

Public Advisory:

The analysis of the first 91 deaths in the vaccine eligible population during this third wave has revealed that fully vaccinated adults have an almost 15 times lower rate of death from COVID-19 than unvaccinated adults. This is comparable to rates seen overseas, which is an indication of the quality of our COVID-19 vaccination program, even with the urgency of ensuring rapid deployment of vaccines in a very short time period. A testament to the work put in by our dedicated health teams and partner agencies to ensure that protocols are followed, and vaccines are administered properly to the people of Fiji. The huge difference in death rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated adults is even further evidence that vaccines work to prevent severe outcomes of COVID-19.

We also continue to record lower than expected hospitalizations due to COVID-19 despite the current resurgence in COVID-19 cases throughout Fiji. This decoupling of the relationship between cases and severe outcomes is a result of the protection afforded by the vaccination program. The reported deaths today (including the three children) have been confined to individuals with high medical risk and who have died, either at home, on the way to the hospital, or within a few days of admission. These 2 factors (comorbidity and adverse health-seeking behavior) also make it difficult to narrate more precisely the extent to which COVID 19 contributes to the death of patients.

The deaths of the 3 children announced today are a sad reminder of the legacy of COVID 19; that, as cases increase to very high numbers in the community, our most vulnerable are at increased risk of being infected and suffering from severe disease. We know that severe disease is rare in children, but this risk increases should they have significant underlying health conditions.

By vaccinating and maintaining our COVID safe measures, we protect the vulnerable among us. We have mentioned in the past that the vaccines are 80% protective against severe disease and death and not 100%.  As such, if community transmission is high enough, rare outcomes will become more frequent.

Looking after the vulnerable needs to be a community-wide effort. The public needs to be aware of the symptoms of severe COVID-19 disease, and early presentation to a health facility when severe symptoms are present, are critical protection measures that we should know and act upon.

The severe symptoms to look out for are: having trouble breathing (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing), ongoing chest pain, severe headache, confusion, inability to stay awake or wake up, pale, grey or blue-colored skin, lips or fingernails, worsening weakness, coughing blood.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and COVID-19

Based on severe disease and death data, it is obvious that nationwide resilience building will need to focus on preventing our developing chronic diseases, and ensuring that those with chronic diseases are well controlled. Both involve building up the good habits of exercise and a healthy diet, and good attendance to medical follow-up and ongoing treatment for those with chronic disease.

Our health statistics over the last few years show that over 80% of total deaths in Fiji are attributed to NCD deaths, and between 30-40% of these are premature deaths. To put an average figure on NCD deaths per year, we record around 5828 deaths annually (average 2015-2020). NCDs have been on the rise for many decades, and whilst this is partly due to better reporting, the inescapable fact is that lifestyle changes need to be made at a community-wide and individual level. The 3 waves of COVID 19 have clearly demonstrated the need for each of us to choose healthier lifestyles and to support each other when one makes such a choice. Choices around physical activity, food portions, and food choices are now more important than ever before. This virus and its many variants will remain endemic for a long time to come and the consequences will reduce BUT OVER A LENGTH OF TIME.

Even if you have a chronic disease, making the healthier choices outlined above will make you stronger and more resilient in the face of this virus.

Employers and community leaders can help to mainstream the support system for vulnerable persons by creating a list of vulnerable persons in their communities, providing support to help them secure good access to medical care, ensuring oversight so that the vulnerable are tested early when they develop flu-like symptoms and provide a supportive environment to ensure that the sick are encouraged and empowered to seek treatment and not delay in seeking health care. In this way, we are working together to protect the most vulnerable, and to direct health care service towards those who need it most in our community.

Promotion of Better Health Seeking Behavior

The Ministry will continue to strongly promote better health-seeking behavior moving forward. The Ministry had committed to facilitating regular outreach services and undertaking community-wide health awareness and promotion activities even before this pandemic. We have escalated our effort further during the current pandemic, however, it is clearly visible from the death data that untimely seeking and accessing health care remains a crucial challenge. The Ministry recognizes that there are factors outside the health sphere that impact health-seeking behaviour, and we appeal to everyone to assist in addressing these factors so that the impact and benefits of health care are appreciated by all who need the care.

Vaccination

The booster dose program began at the end of November 2021. As of January 24th, 68,099 individuals have so far received booster doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from the 142, 240 persons considered eligible. This represents a 48% coverage rate for booster-eligible persons. We are also expecting to receive more Pfizer vaccines soon which will be used for booster doses and as a vaccine for children. The booster vaccine and vaccination for children are not considered mandatory, however, we encourage all eligible individuals to be vaccinated or get a booster dose, and help navigate Fiji into a safer covid zone that supports the socio-economic revival and safer reopening of schools.

Vaccination of children under 12 years remains part of ongoing discussions as sourcing them remains difficult.

International Travel

International travel will continue to need ongoing reviews. We note the WHO advice that national authorities should lift or ease international traffic bans, as they do not provide added value, and continue to contribute to the economic and social stress in countries. In addition, they can adversely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivizing countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data.

We will however continue to apply a multi-layered risk mitigation approach to potentially delay the exportation or importation of the new variant, including via the use of entry/exit screening, testing, or quarantine of travelers. These measures should be informed by a risk assessment process and be commensurate with the risk, time-limited, and applied with respect to travelers’ dignity, comfort, convenience, and rights.

We will continue to ensure adequate measures such that all travelers are screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, are vaccinated, and adhere to public health and social measures at all times

Building Resilience

As we go through the current wave of COVID-19, Fijians need to adopt practices that build resilience. We know that there remains a high risk of resurgence of endemic variants and the arrival of new variants. Our socioeconomic survival depends on our ability to build and sustain individual and community-wide resilience. We should expect that COVID-19 will be endemic, however, we need to appreciate that “endemic” doesn’t mean harmless. Endemic means that we expect continued circulation of the disease in the community,  the baseline levels of which are yet to be determined. Leptospirosis, Typhoid, and Dengue are endemic in Fiji and they are associated with serious outcomes, especially when the number of cases increases to outbreak levels.  Building resilience means that we must adopt healthier lifestyles, make COVID safe behavior a habit that we adopt and support others to adopt, mainstream medical and community-wide oversight over vulnerable persons so they can have timely access to health care, and build up community surveillance mechanisms that use health and non-health data sources to alert us of impending disease outbreaks.

Our objective is to live with the virus and at the same time ensure a high level of transmission suppression, and prevention of severe outcomes.

COVID-19 Situation Update

Monday 24th January 2022

Public Advisory:

The deaths of a 4-month-old infant and a 15-year-old child with underlying health conditions are sad reminders that,  as cases increase to very high numbers in the community, our most vulnerable are at higher risk of being infected and suffering from severe disease. We know that severe disease is rare in children, but this risk increases should they have significant underlying health conditions.

We must all do our best to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 to protect our vulnerable. This means keeping up with the Vaccine Plus approach.

1) getting fully vaccinated (which includes getting a booster shot when due), plus

2) strictly adhering to the COVID transmission suppression protocols.

The COVID transmission suppression protocols are:

1. Individual COVID safe measures (masking, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, hand hygiene), and
2. Settings-based measures (social gathering restrictions, indoor capacity restrictions, ventilation, and curfews).

Following the Vaccine Plus Approach means that everyone has a role to play to protect themselves from the current outbreak, as well as future outbreaks from other new variants that can arise. The approach means that the Ministry and Govt will provide the opportunity for all eligible Fijians to access safe and effective vaccines that protect us from severe diseases and deaths due to COVID-19. It also means that we take responsibility for adhering to the COVID transmission suppression protocols on an individual basis, as well as on a collective basis in all community settings we engage in – whether it is at work, in school, at our local house of worship, or during a traditional ceremony. The Vaccine Plus Approach means we are collectively and equally responsible for our protection and our health, as well as the well-being of the most vulnerable in our communities.

We are also strongly advising anyone who is in the high-risk group (people over the age of 50, pregnant women, those with non-communicable diseases) and develops any COVID-19 symptoms, to please come forward to be tested and reviewed by our medical teams. Symptoms include cold or flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, body ache, fever. If you test positive you will be placed on a care pathway that will involve monitoring and escalation of care if required. We also need everyone to be aware of the symptoms of severe COVID-19, and to immediately seek emergency medical care if they are present. The symptoms of severe disease are Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, coughing blood, difficulty staying awake, pale, grey, or blue-colored skin.

Non-communicable disease (NCDs) and COVID-19

A predominant contributor to severe outcomes in all the waves of COVID 19 in Fiji has been NCD-related comorbidities such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services attributes 5,700 deaths in 2020 to complications related to NCDs. In addition, NCDs place an additional heavy burden on the Fijian society in the form of lost hours of work and healthcare needs.

Given the severe negative health effects of overconsumption of sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sugar-filled processed foods, the Ministry wishes to advise the public to curb sugar consumption by members of the public and promote healthier alternatives, such as the use of natural honey. In addition, the promotion of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and maintaining optimal control of the NCD through appropriate medications needs to be an integral part of building resilience against diseases for the vulnerable in our communities.

Employers and community leaders can help to mainstream the support system for vulnerable persons by creating a list of vulnerable persons in their communities, providing support to help them secure good access to medical care, ensuring oversight so that the vulnerable are tested early when they develop flu-like symptoms and provide a supportive environment to ensure that the sick are encouraged and empowered to seek treatment and not delay in seeking health care. In this way, we are working together to protect the most vulnerable, and to direct health care service towards those who need it most in our community.

Building Resilience

As we go through the current wave of COVID-19, Fijians need to adopt practices that build resilience. We know that there remains a high risk of resurgence of endemic variants and the arrival of new variants. Our socioeconomic survival depends on our ability to build and sustain individual and community-wide resilience. We should expect that COVID-19 will be endemic, however, we need to appreciate that “endemic” doesn’t mean harmless. Endemic means that we expect continued circulation of the disease in the community,  the baseline levels of which are yet to be determined. Leptospirosis, Typhoid, and Dengue are endemic in Fiji and they are associated with serious outcomes, especially when the number of cases increases to outbreak levels.  Building resilience means that we must adopt healthier lifestyles, make COVID safe behavior a habit that we adopt and support others to adopt, mainstream medical and community-wide oversight over vulnerable persons so they can have timely access to health care, and build up community surveillance mechanisms that use health and non-health data sources to alert us of impending disease outbreaks.

Our objective is to live with the virus and at the same time ensure a high level of transmission suppression, and prevention of severe outcomes.

COVID-19 Situation Update

Friday 21st January 2022

Transmission Update: Since the last update on 19/01/2022, we have recorded a total of 349 new cases; of which 130 new cases were recorded on 20/01/2022 and 219 new cases in the last 24 hours ending at 8 am this morning. Of the 349 cases recorded, 257 cases were in the Central Division; 67 cases in the Western Division, 25 cases in the Northern Division, and nil cases in the Eastern Division. Overall, there have been 60,861 cases recorded, with 68% of the cases from the Central Division, 28% of the cases from the Western Division, 1% of the cases from the Eastern Division, and 3% from the Northern Division. Our national 7- day rolling average is 233 daily cases calculated for 17th January 2022.

Deaths: This curve depicts the daily death count by division since the 2nd wave of this outbreak that began in April 2021. Overall, the death rates for the Central, Western, and Northern Divisions indicate an upward trend. There are 16 new COVID-19 deaths to report from the period 28th December 2021 to 20th January 2022. Twelve of the deaths reported were in the Northern Division, with 2 in Central, and 2 in the West. All were at higher risk of severe disease due to their ages or underlying medical conditions. 14 of the people who died were not vaccinated, while 2 were fully vaccinated. Northern Division deaths from December 2021 to mid-January 2022 are being reported today due to a delay in the issuance of Medical Cause of Death Certificates. The first COVID-19 death to report is of a 63-year-old female from the Northern Division who died at home on 28/12/2022. She had pre-existing medical conditions and was not vaccinated. The second COVID-19 death to report is of a 52-year-old male from the Northern Division who was admitted at Labasa Hospital on 10/01/22. He had pre-existing medical conditions and died on 11/01/2022 due to COVID-19 complications. He was fully vaccinated. The third COVID-19 death to report is of a 71-year-old male from the Northern Division who died at home on 12/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. The fourth COVID-19 death to report is of a 73-year-old male from the Northern Division who died at home on 12/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. The fifth COVID-19 death to report is of a 71-year-old male from the Northern Division who died at home on 13/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. The sixth COVID-19 death to report is of an 83-year-old male from the Northern Division who died at home on 13/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. The seventh COVID-19 death to report is of a 63-year-old female from the Northern Division who died at home on 13/01/2022. She was not vaccinated. The eighth COVID-19 death to report is of a 73-year-old male from the Northern Division who died on arrival at Labasa Hospital on 14/01/2022. He had multiple pre-existing medical conditions and was not vaccinated. The ninth COVID-19 death to report is of a 58-year-old male from the Northern Division who died on arrival at Labasa Hospital on 16/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. The tenth COVID-19 death to report is of a 67-year-old male from the Northern Division who died at home on 17/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. The eleventh COVID-19 death to report is of an 82-year-old male from the Central Division who died at home on 18/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. The twelfth COVID-19 death to report is of a 71-year-old male from the Central Division who died at home on 19/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. The thirteenth COVID-19 death to report is of a 57-year-old male from the Western Division who died on arrival at Lautoka Hospital Emergency on 19/01/2022. He had significant pre-existing medical conditions and was fully vaccinated. The fourteenth COVID-19 death to report is of a 71-year-old male from the Western Division who died at home on 19/01/2022. He had a significant pre-existing medical condition and was not vaccinated. The fifteenth COVID-19 death to report is of an 81-year-old male from the Northern Division who died on arrival at Labasa Hospital on 19/01/2022. He had multiple pre-existing medical conditions and was not vaccinated. The sixteenth COVID-19 death to report is of an 83-year-old male from the Northern Division who died at home on 20/01/2022. He was not vaccinated. There have been a total of 768 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji. 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 days rolling average of deaths, based on the date of death, to help ensure the data collected is complete before the average is reported. Therefore, as of January 17th, 2022, the national 7 days rolling average for COVID-19 deaths per day is 4.9, with a case fatality rate of 1.32%. We have recorded 744 COVID-19 positive patients who died from other serious medical conditions unrelated to COVID-19; their doctors determined that COVID-19 did not contribute to their deaths, therefore these are not classified as COVID-19 deaths.

Hospitalization: Using the WHO clinical severity classification, 57% (n=110) of the admissions of COVID-19 positive patients are categorized as asymptomatic and mild, 30% (n=59) are categorized as moderate and 11% (n=21) as severe with 4 cases in the critical category. Anyone admitted to the hospital is tested before admission, therefore, a significant number of people are admitted to the hospital for non-covid health conditions, but incidentally test positive due to the high transmission in the community. These patients are admitted with COVID-19 rather than for COVID-19. The number of people being admitted for COVID-19 remains low compared to the previous wave.

Testing: 562 tests have been reported for January 20th, 2022. . The 7-day daily test average is 481 tests per day or 0.5 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 50.3%. The high positivity rate is an indication of widespread community transmission.

Public Advisory:

The deaths reported tonight were people who were at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease and died at home or on arrival at the hospital. These were people who were over the age of 50 or had significant underlying medical conditions (non-communicable disease). And even more sadly, 14 of the people who died were not vaccinated. As a society, we must do our very best to protect the most vulnerable in our communities, and the best protection against severe disease and death is getting two doses of the vaccine, getting the booster when you are due, and suppressing transmission through COVID-19 safe measures. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services continues to conduct outreach to remote communities in the Northern Division in the effort to increase vaccination coverage. But we are asking our communities to also encourage the vulnerable people you know to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

We are also strongly advising anyone who is in the high-risk group and develops any COVID-19 symptoms, to please come forward to be tested and reviewed by our medical staff. Symptoms include cold or flu-like symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, body ache, fever. If you test positive you will be placed on a care pathway that will involve monitoring and escalation of care if required. We also need everyone to be aware of the symptoms of severe COVID-19 and immediately seek emergency medical care if they are present:

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, coughing blood, difficulty staying awake, pale, grey or blue coloured skin.

Non-communicable disease (NCDs) and COVID-19

A predominant contributor to severe outcomes in all the waves of COVID 19 in Fiji has been NCD-related comorbidities such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, obesity and hypertension. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services attributes 5,700 deaths in 2020 due to complications related to NCDs. The total burden of NCDs on the Fijian society –– due to lost hours of work and healthcare needs –– is estimated to be $406 million annually, according to the Economic Burden Report Fiji, 2018.

Given the severe negative health effects of overconsuming sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sugar-filled processed foods, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services hopes that the increase in sugar prices will curb sugar consumption by members of the public and promote healthier alternatives, such as reducing the consumption of sugars and use of natural honey.

Together with ensuring optimal treatment compliance of those with NCDs, the promotion of a healthy diet and exercise needs to be an integral part of as part of building resilience together with

We need employers and community leaders to help mainstream this type of support system for vulnerable persons by creating a list of vulnerable persons, facilitating support to secure good access to medical care, ensuring oversight so that if they develop flu-like symptoms they test early and provide a supportive environment to ensure that the sick will feel encouraged to seek treatment and not try to wait things out; this means at least in the short term we are able to direct service towards the protection of the vulnerable in our community.

Building Resilience

As we go through the current wave of COVID-19, Fijians need to adopt practices that build resilience. We know that there remains a high risk of resurgence of endemic variants and the arrival of new variants. Our socioeconomic survival depends on our ability to build and sustain individual and community-wide resilience. We should expect that COVID-19 will be endemic, however, we need to appreciate that “endemic” doesn’t mean harmless. Endemic means that we expect continued circulation of the disease in the community although at this stage it is too early to determine our expected baseline levels. Leptospirosis, Typhoid, and Dengue are endemic in Fiji and they are associated with serious outcomes, especially when cases increase above expected levels and result in an epidemic (outbreak).  Building resilience demands that we adopt healthier lifestyles, make COVID safe behavior a habit that we adopt and support others to adopt, mainstream medical and community-wide oversight over vulnerable persons such that we support those at risk to have timely access to health care,  build up community surveillance mechanisms that depend on both medical and non-medical data sources to inform us early of impending epidemics or outbreaks.

Our objective is to live with the virus and at the same time ensure a high level of transmission suppression, and prevention of severe outcomes. Endemic diseases need constant suppression until their consequences are as low as the usual flu viruses.

Vaccine Plus Approach

Please remember that for the current wave we are facing, vaccination on its own is not enough for our protection. The Vaccine Plus approach means that we are keeping ourselves sufficiently protected by:

1) getting fully vaccinated (which includes getting a booster shot when due), plus

2) strictly adhering to the COVID transmission suppression protocols.

The COVID transmission suppression protocols are:

1. Individual COVID safe measures (masking, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, hand hygiene), and
2. Settings-based measures (social gathering restrictions, indoor capacity restrictions, ventilation, and curfews).

Following the Vaccine Plus Approach means that everyone has a role to play to protect themselves from the current outbreak, as well as future outbreaks from other new variants that can arise. The approach means that the Ministry and Govt will provide the opportunity for all eligible Fijians to access safe and effective vaccines that protect us from severe diseases and deaths due to COVID-19. It also means that we take responsibility for adhering to the COVID transmission suppression protocols on an individual basis, as well as on a collective basis in all community settings we engage in – whether it is at work, in school, at our local house of worship, or during a traditional ceremony. The Vaccine Plus Approach means we are collectively and equally responsible for our protection and our health – not just the Ministry of Health or the front-liners!

Vaccine Based Restrictions On Children Under 18 years

The Ministry reiterates the WHO endorsed position that children under 18 years should not be restricted from social interactions on the basis of vaccination status. Overall, there are proportionally fewer symptomatic infections, and cases with severe outcomes from COVID-19 in children and adolescents, compared with older age groups, and therefore such restrictions are not justified from a public health perspective. This is especially so that with the added requirement to adhere to COVID safe measures, the inherent lower risk in children and adolescents is further reduced. So, while the Ministry is encouraging the vaccination of our children less than 18 years, it is still not compulsory, and children are safe to interact in our communities while employing COVID safe measures at all times outside their households.

Healthcare workers and community-wide response 

Health workers and frontliners have done their best for two years to protect as many of us as possible; we must now do our part to protect them, by getting vaccinated, and by taking precautions to prevent becoming infected, or infecting someone else. As we have seen all over the world, even if Omicron is less likely to cause severe disease or deaths compared to previous variants, higher levels of transmission mean more people getting infected in a shorter time period, which may still lead to a high number of hospitalizations and deaths. And when people are admitted with COVID, rather than for COVID, medical staff are still required to organize themselves to provide care for COVID and non-COVID patients. This means more hospital resources are needed and more staff are required to work, which puts further strain on an already stressed health system. COVID-19 is also not the only health challenge that health workers face every day. Taking the pressure off health systems will enable them to deal with the many other health challenges that our people face. Therefore, the COVID 19 response should now be a community-wide, whole-of-society program, where everyone plays their role.

As such while vaccination deployment will continue, our current efforts will be to support other Ministries and business entities to develop COVID safe protocols and to provide the appropriate oversight processes that ensure we all function in a COVID safe manner.

Together with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport we have put together a number COVID-Safe Protocols as approved by the respective Permanent Secretaries, and these are published online at https://www.mcttt.gov.fj/covid-19-business-protocols/, with effect from 17 January 2022—

1.       Protocol for COVID-Safe Business Operations;
2.       Protocol for COVID-Safe Retail Operations;
3.       Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Houses of Worship;
4.       Protocol for Enhanced Ventilation;
5.       Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Hairdressers and Salon Services;
6.       Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Tattoo Parlours;
7.       Protocol for COVID Safe Gym Operations;
8.       Protocol for COVID-Safe Cinema/Movie Theatre Operations;
9.         Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations of Bars and Taverns;
10.         Protocol for COVID-Safe Gaming Venue Operations;
11.       Protocol for COVID-Safe Tourism Accommodation Operations;
12.         Protocol for Land Transport Services;
13.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Outdoor Events;
14.       Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Independent Event Halls and Hire Venues.

The COVID-19 Incident Management Unit had been rolling out community engagement training with community health workers, turaga-ni-koro, mata-ni-tikina, church leaders, school managers, headteachers, and principals in rural areas throughout Fiji. The outcome of this training is COVID-19 preparedness equipping local communities with the knowledge to carry out community-based surveillance, care pathways for COVID-19 cases, and COVID-19 safe measures.

COVID-19 Situation Update

Wednesday 19th January 2022

Testing: 

449 tests have been reported for January 18th, 2022. . The 7-day daily test average is 559 tests per day or 0.6 tests per 1,000 population.

The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 50.7%, which is above the WHO recommendation of 5%. The high positivity rate is an indication of widespread community transmission.

Public Advisory:

COVID-19 Deaths

Due to the protection afforded by the vaccination program, the reported deaths have been much less compared to the previous wave and the deaths have been mostly in individuals with high medical risk and who have died, either at home, on the way to the hospital, or within a few days of admission. These 2 factors (comorbidity and adverse health-seeking behavior) also make it difficult to narrate more precisely the extent to which COVID 19 contributes to the death of patients.

We have mentioned in the past that the vaccines are 80% protective against severe disease and death and not 100%.  As such, if community transmission is high enough, rare outcomes will be more visible. Therefore in this current wave, our awareness of the symptoms of severe COVID-19 disease, and early presentation to a health facility when severe symptoms are present, are critical protection measures that we should know and act upon. The severe symptoms to look out for are: having trouble breathing (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing), ongoing chest pain, severe headache, confusion, inability to stay awake or wake up, pale, grey or blue-colored skin, lips or fingernails, worsening weakness, coughing blood.

Vaccine Plus Approach

Please remember that for the current wave we are facing, vaccination on its own is not enough for our protection. The Vaccine Plus approach means that we are keeping ourselves sufficiently protected by:

1) getting fully vaccinated (which includes getting a booster shot when due), plus

2) strictly adhering to the COVID transmission suppression protocols.

The COVID transmission suppression protocols are:

1. Individual COVID safe measures (masking, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, hand hygiene), and
2. Settings-based measures (social gathering restrictions, indoor capacity restrictions, ventilation, and curfews).

Following the Vaccine Plus Approach means that everyone has a role to play to protect themselves from the current outbreak, as well as future outbreaks from other new variants that can arise. The approach means that the Ministry and Govt will provide the opportunity for all eligible Fijians to access safe and effective vaccines that protect us from severe diseases and deaths due to COVID-19. It also means that we take responsibility for adhering to the COVID transmission suppression protocols on an individual basis, as well as on a collective basis in all community settings we engage in – whether it is at work, in school, at our local house of worship, or during a traditional ceremony. The Vaccine Plus Approach means we are collectively and equally responsible for our protection and our health – not just the Ministry of Health or the front-liners!

Vaccine Based Restrictions On Children Under 18 years

The Ministry reiterates the WHO endorsed position that children under 18 years should not be restricted from social interactions on the basis of vaccination status. Overall, there are proportionally fewer symptomatic infections, and cases with severe outcomes from COVID-19 in children and adolescents, compared with older age groups, and therefore such restrictions are not justified from a public health perspective. This is especially so that with the added requirement to adhere to COVID safe measures, the inherent lower risk in children and adolescents is further reduced. So while the Ministry is encouraging the vaccination of our children less than 18 years, it is still not compulsory and children are safe to interact in our communities while employing COVID safe measures at all times outside their households.

Healthcare workers and community-wide response

Health workers and frontliners have done their best for two years to protect as many of us as possible; we must now do our part to protect them, by getting vaccinated, and by taking precautions to prevent becoming infected, or infecting someone else. As we have seen all over the world, even if Omicron is less likely to cause severe disease or deaths compared to previous variants, higher levels of transmission mean more people getting infected in a shorter time period, which may still lead to a high number of hospitalizations and deaths. And when people are admitted with COVID, rather than for COVID, medical staff are still required to organize themselves to provide care for COVID and non-COVID patients. This means more hospital resources are needed and more staff are required to work, which puts further strain on an already stressed health system. COVID-19 is also not the only health challenge that health workers face every day. Taking the pressure off health systems will enable them to deal with the many other health challenges that our people face. Therefore, the COVID 19 response should now be a community-wide, whole-of-society program, where everyone plays their role.

As such while vaccination deployment will continue, our current efforts will be to support other Ministries and business entities to develop COVID safe protocols and to provide the appropriate oversight processes that ensure we all function in a COVID safe manner.

Together with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport we have put together a number COVID-Safe Protocols as approved by the respective Permanent Secretaries, and these are published online at https://www.mcttt.gov.fj/covid-19-business-protocols/, with effect from 17 January 2022—

1.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Business Operations;
2.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Retail Operations;
3.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Houses of Worship;
4.     Protocol for Enhanced Ventilation;
5.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Hairdressers and Salon Services;
6.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Tattoo Parlours;
7.     Protocol for COVID Safe Gym Operations;
8.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Cinema/Movie Theatre Operations;
9.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations of Bars and Taverns;
10.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Gaming Venue Operations;
11.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Tourism Accommodation Operations;
12.     Protocol for Land Transport Services;
13.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Outdoor Events;
14.     Protocol for COVID-Safe Operations for Independent Event Halls and Hire Venues.

The COVID-19 Incident Management Unit had been rolling out community engagement training with community health workers, turaga-ni-koro, mata-ni-tikina, church leaders, school managers, headteachers, and principals in rural areas throughout Fiji. The outcome of this training is COVID-19 preparedness equipping local communities with the knowledge to carry out community-based surveillance, care pathways for COVID-19 cases, and COVID-19 safe measures.

Preparing for adverse weather events

We are still in the cyclone season and the public is reminded to prepare well for their health needs that can arise during an adverse weather event. Those who take medications regularly for chronic illnesses should ensure that they have an adequate supply of medications with them. All medicines kept at home must be kept in waterproof containers and in dry places away from children and safe from the elements. Families should ensure that the health needs of the vulnerable members of the family such as pregnant mothers, babies and children, the elderly, and the disabled are considered carefully, and plans in place for their safe and immediate evacuation to a health facility if the need arises during a climatic event.

Weather disturbances can cause the increase of climate-sensitive diseases such as leptospirosis, typhoid fever, dengue fever, and diarrhoeal diseases. The public is advised to take actions to protect themselves from these diseases and to prevent the spread of the diseases in our community.

Drinking water should be boiled if the color of the water turns turbid or the regular water supply is frequently interrupted. Stored water should be covered to protect against dirt and pests. Compounds and the home surroundings should be cleared of loose materials and debris that can injure individuals and attract pests. Household rubbish should be disposed of properly, and proper personal protective equipment should be used when outside the household. Children should also be advised on the health risks associated with bathing in flooded water around the home, and in flooded drains, creeks, and rivers, and be discouraged from doing so.

Volcanic eruptions in Tonga

The Ministry encourages members of the public to pay close attention to the advice of the NDMO and the Department of Environment on the environmental risks associated with volcanic eruptions in Tonga. We are working closely with the relevant government agencies on the proposed environmental and health assessments to be conducted for our island communities in the Lau group. Our environmental health team will also conduct random water sampling to assess the impact of the ash cloud on rainwater and our water sources. Meanwhile, members of the public affected by these events are advised to report any health manifestation immediately to your local health facility for assessment and care.