Press Release

Public Advisory

Thursday, 17 June 2021            

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to advise that pregnant women living within the Lami-Nausori containment area can visit one of the following health centres nearest to them for their first booking clinic only. Pregnant women who have already completed their first booking including those who have been booked before April must wait at home and they will be given a phone call to schedule future appointments.

For any  queries please call:  9988997 / 9988970.

When going to the health centre for first booking clinic, adhere to the following for the safety of yourself and family members:

• Do not bring your children, husband or any other family member with you unless required (this is to minimize crowding at the facility and thus reduce the risk of spreading the virus);
• Wear a mask;
• Do not interact with anyone else while waiting for your turn;
• Maintain safe physical distancing of 2 metres from another person while waiting;
• Wash your hands with soap and water or frequently sanitise with alcohol based rub; and
• Keep your careFIJI application turned on.

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.

Media Release

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has started administering the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines from the available vaccination sites across the country. Individuals who received the first dose of AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine from 5th to 16th April 2021 and are due to receive the second dose between 7th June to 25th June 2021, can go to the nearest vaccination sites.

Individuals should check their COVID-19 vaccine card to find out the date of the first and second dose.

People who have not completed their interval period of 8-12 weeks since they received their first dose, must wait to do so.

For the second dose, individuals can go to their nearest vaccination site to get the jab. It is NOT COMPULSORY that you receive the second dose from the same vaccination site where you received your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Daily list for the vaccination sites are provided on the social media platforms of the Fijian Government and the Ministry of Health and local radio and television channels.

Ends.

Media Release

COVID-19 Update

Tuesday June 15th 2021

Daily Update

There are 116 new cases to report today. 93 of the new cases are linked to the following existing clusters:

Caubati: 7

Nasinu Police Barracks: 24

Navy: 3

CWMH: 14

Waila: 3

Sakoca: 5

Nawajikuma, Nawaka, Nadi: 2

Tramline, Nawaka, Nadi: 8

Muanikoso: 1

Reservoir Rd: 10

Navosai: 1

Nakasi: 1

Tacirua: 2

Grantham Rd: 2

Vunimono 10

3 cases have been identified as primary contacts of earlier cases, and the respective response teams are determining the cluster link. 13 cases, from the following areas, are under investigation to determine whether they have links to other cases: Mead Road (2), Nasese (1), Princess Rd (1), Vatuwaqa (1), Veisari, Lami (1), Tovata in Makoi (1), Wailoku (1), Koronivia (2), Vanuadina Village, Nausori (1), Naduru, Nausori (1), Nausori Town (1).

Investigations are also ongoing into 3 cases that were swabbed at the Valelevu and Raiwaqa screening clinics.

There are now also 4 cases in the Korovou area in Tailevu. Early investigations have revealed that 1 is a driver that was recruited into the Korovou COVID-19 response team. The other 3 cases are primary contacts of this driver – a relative and other members of the response team. Investigations are ongoing into how these cases contracted the virus , and the subdivisional medical team are working to contain this new cluster.

Sadly, a 73 year old patient at the CWM Hospital has died. The patient had been admitted at the hospital for almost a month for a severe non-COVID related illness, and tested positive 11 days ago. Whilst his prognosis was poor, this death has been classified as  a COVID-19 death by the doctors treating him. We extend our sincere condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.

This is the 3rd death due to COVID-19 during this current outbreak, and the 5th COVID-19 death overall for Fiji.

32 COVID-19  cases have recovered, which means there are now 943 active cases in isolation. There have been 1252 cases during this outbreak that started in April 2021.

We have recorded a total of 1322 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020. There have been 367 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 114,386 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 157,247 tested since testing began in early 2020.

3875 tests have been reported for June 14th, a new daily record of testing. This number is expected to increase as test number data has not yet been received from the laboratory at Nadi hospital.  The national 7-day daily test average is 3503 tests per day or 4 tests per 1000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 2%.

Vaccination

In the last 24 hours, a total of 4,355 first doses and 730 second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered nationally. This brings the total number of vaccinations conducted to date to 242,721 first doses and 6,224 second doses into the arms of Fijians. Nationally, 41% of the target population of people aged 18 and over have received the first dose of the vaccine. 42% have received the first dose in the Central Division, 56% in the Western Division, 12% in the Eastern Division, and 12% in the Northern Division.

Epidemic Outlook

The outbreak, based on the number of daily cases, is escalating in the Lami – Nausori containment area, with majority of the cases in the lockdown areas/clusters. The 7 day rolling average of daily cases is now at 68 cases per day. And we have hit another daily record of cases today. This was not unexpected, and daily case numbers are expected to increase further.

The detection of a new cluster in the Korovou area, outside the containment zones is a cause for concern.  While we continue to respond to new cases and monitor the outbreak closely, our mitigation measures to cater for severe illness are presently able to cater for our current caseload. With the rising case numbers, the risk of an increase in severe cases is high but there are contingency measures in place to respond accordingly.

Advice to the public

Our advice to the public remains the same. Please do all you can to protect yourselves and your loved ones from this virus. Stay at home as much as possible. If you have to leave your home: wear a mask, keep at least 2 metres between yourselves and others outside your household, frequently wash your hands with soap and water, or an alcohol based hand sanitiser. Turn on your careFiji App and bluetooth. Behave as if anyone you encounter outside your home may have the virus. Don’t attend social gatherings. Don’t drink grog with anyone outside your household. Don’t invite anyone home. And please get vaccinated. It will reduce your risk of contracting the virus and help protect you from severe disease and death if you do get infected with COVID-19.

-ENDS-

Chief Medical Advisor – Press Conference

14th June 2021

• It’s 58 days since the onset of this second wave of the outbreak which began on 18 Apr 2021
• As you have heard, we have recorded more than 1200 cases since the 1^st case in March 2020, and the majority of cases in this 2^nd wave
• The Health service is coping delivering the normative clinical and public health services, and COVID public health response
• All main divisional and subdivisional hospital functional with CWMH providing COVID care for central

Quarantine and Isolation Services

• The 1100 active cases are distributed into the 5 health facilities (111 pers), 12 community isolation facilities (380 pers) & 38 families (281 pers) under home isolation in Suva (22), Rewa (14), and Naitasiri (2). Awaiting retrieval = 140
• 8 Govt designated facilities in Nadi currently have 533 individuals (469 PC & SC; 64 QP)
  

Screening & Contact Tracing – continued but slowed down as usual over the weekend:

• Stationery Clinics (56): 864 screened/ 187 swabbed (Cumm total = 147,164 screened/17,222 swab)
• Mobile Community screening: 191 screened/72 swab (Cumm Total = 614,025 screen/43,258 swab)

Main Clinical Health facilities

• Labasa hospital – fully functional and in preparedness phase,
• With the public health team are facilitating the internal repat green to red zone assisting Commissioners team over the last 7 days,
• The team is also preparing for red to green repat into Vanua Levu;
• Lautoka Hospital – fully operational,
• providing COVID and non-COVID admission services for the western division;
• supporting FEMAT Field hospital for ICU care of children and babies
• CWM Hospital – day operating as COVID hospital,
• receives all COVID referrals from FEMAT & division, admission, ICU care, maternity and pediatric care
• FEMAT Field Hospital – Day 10 of operations; manned by 129 personnel (101 MoH staff)
• 216 triaged; 77 admissions; 45 surgical operations (25@FFH; 20@MVV)
• 13 deliveries; 12 CS at MVV
• 259 prescriptions dispensed
• Receives referrals from all central HCFs – Navua to Nayavu

Message

• I am sure you will agree with me that we must not let the number of COVID cases surpass the capacity of health services to provide health services which will make our work even harder
• And we have the ability to achieve that by diligently pursuing COVID safe measures –
• stay at home, only 3 reasons to move – food, access health service, essential work,
• mask up properly (covering your mouth and nose) if outside your family bubble,
• the social distancing of 2 meters,
• handwashing with soap and water or alcohol hand rub,
• follow the proper way to cough and sneeze,
• Download and activate the careFIJI app by turning on the Bluetooth.
• Agree to get vaccinated when the opportunity comes

Vinaka vakalevu