Media Release
COVID-19 Daily Update
Sunday, 12th September 2021
Transmission Update
We have 128 new cases of COVID-19 to report for the 24 hour period that ended at 8 am today. 90 cases are from the Western Division and 38 cases are from the Central Division.
There have been 173 new recoveries to report since the last update, which means that there are now 12,814 active cases. 1,474 active cases are in the Central Division, 11,043 active cases in the Western Division, 2 active cases in the Northern Division (Macuata), and 295 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 48,916 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 48,986 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 35,272 recoveries.
Deaths
There is no new COVID-19 death to report today.
There have been 2 deaths of COVID-19 positive patients. 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 535 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 533 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 the date of death, to help ensure the data collected is complete before the average is reported. Therefore, as of September 7th, the national 7 day rolling average of COVID-19 deaths per day is 2. The 7 day rolling average for COVID-19 deaths per day in the Central Division is 1 and in the Western Division is 1.
We also have recorded 365 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.
Hospitalizations
There are currently 127 COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital. 50 patients are admitted at the Lautoka Hospital, 8 patients are admitted at the FEMAT field hospital, and 69 admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi. 17 patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 4 are in critical condition.
Screening Update
A total of 1,256 individuals were screened and 333 swabbed at our stationary screening clinics in the last 24 hours, bringing our cumulative total to 567,359 individuals screened and 93,772 swabbed to date. Our mobile screening teams screened a total of 1,481 individuals and swabbed 10. This brings our cumulative total to 829,027 individuals screened and 73,790 swabbed by our mobile teams.
Testing Update
A total of 347,525 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 390,386 tested since testing began in March 2020. 813 tests have been reported for September 11th. Lab testing data is pending from one lab. Therefore, lab testing data is expected to increase. The 7-day daily test average is 1,078 tests per day or 1.2 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 16.3%, which is on a downward trend but still indicating a high level of community transmission.
Vaccination Update
As of the 11th of September 569,931 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 341,679 have received their second doses. This means that 97.1% of the target population have received at least one dose and 58.2% 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 160 cases per day or 181 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 the progress of the outbreak. The Ministry is closely monitoring other indicators such as test positivity, hospitalizations, 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.
No new cases were recorded in Kadavu in the last 24 hours. Eleven cases are admitted at Vunisea hospital; 5 are COVID positive and currently in stable condition, and 6 are negative for COVID-19. Movement restrictions and targeted village lockdowns for Tawava village and the villages in Yawe tikina remain in force.
Malolo island did not record any new cases in the last 24 hours and daily assessment continues for the active cases and their contacts. Movement restrictions remain in force for all villages on the island.
Surveillance and testing conducted in Gunu village and Nasoqo village on Naviti island revealed 9 new cases who are now under isolation in their villages. Surveillance continues for the two villages on the island and movement restriction remains in force for the whole island.
A total of 37 positive cases have now been identified in Dakuni village on Beqa island, while 11 more cases have been diagnosed in Dakuibeqa village in the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of cases on the island to 48. Three positive cases have been transferred to CWM Hospital including a 70 years old patient with severe COVID-19 disease. Health teams continue to provide education and awareness to the villagers to assist in their acceptance of the much-needed testing and intervention on the island. Meanwhile, movement restrictions remain in force for the whole island.
Public Updates and Advice:
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has noted the downturn in case numbers and positivity rate although we are limiting our testing to high-risk groups and places of concern. This coupled with our decreasing numbers of admissions, severe disease, and deaths are all consistently indicating that we are on the tail end of the epidemic. Our hospital COVID bed occupancy is getting less with increased critical care bed reserves which are now increasingly deployed for non-COVID clinical care and our oxygen therapy intervention reserves are at 80%. These gains will support our national endeavor to get people back to their homes and facilitate our return to greater social and economic stability. Despite these gains, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services remains guarded in its outlook on the future. We are concerned that there remain too many pockets of unvaccinated communities with high numbers of vulnerable persons living among them. The Ministry has put in place processes to identify these groups and to improve vaccination among them; meanwhile, we will maintain virtual and direct (medical and community-based) oversight to ensure early diagnosis and early access to clinical care especially for the vulnerable within the unvaccinated groups.