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Statement by Permanent Secretary for Health & Medical Services

COVID-19 Daily Update

Saturday 05^th June 2021

Transmission Update

We have recorded 33 new cases since our last daily update yesterday. The latest cases are linked to the following clusters:
Navosai – 5
Navy – 5
IMT HQ – 2
IMT warehouse – 1
CWMH – 3
Waila – 13
Nawaka/Nadi Hospital – 2

2 cases from Khalsa and Vatuwaqa are under investigation to determine if they have links to other cases.

Sadly, a 38-year-old woman, who had earlier been reported as testing positive for COVID-19 (case 488) at CWMH has died. However, she is not being counted as another COVID-19 death as she was already very ill due to other serious medical conditions for which she had been admitted to the hospital. Clinically her cause of death is related to these conditions rather than the incidental finding of a COVID-19 infection, which was picked up as a result of screening of all patients in the hospital.

4 patients have recovered, which means there are now 406 active cases in isolation. There have been 534 cases during the current outbreak that started in April 2021.

We have recorded a total of 604 cases in Fiji since the first case in March 2020, with 193 recoveries, and 4 deaths due to COVID-19.

Testing Update

A total of 3677 samples were tested and reported on 3^rd June. This does not yet include testing numbers from the lab at Nadi Hospital. The national 7-day daily test average is 2765 tests per day or 3.1 per 1000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 1.1%.

Vaccination Update

We have administered 206,658 first doses and 4,599 second doses nationwide since the beginning of our vaccination effort. This week (31 May through 4 June) we administered 70,693 first doses and 482 second doses. Breakdown of vaccinations by division is:

• Central 25,678 first doses/420 second doses
• Western 44,870 first doses/62 second doses
• Eastern 145 first doses

Vaccination Safety

Experience worldwide and in Fiji has shown that the COVID-19 vaccines in use–including the AstraZeneca vaccine that we are administering to people in Fiji–are effective and safe. All vaccines carry some risks, but adverse reactions to vaccines are rare. We have more than a century of experience with vaccines, and we can thank them for eradicating smallpox and preventing diseases like polio and measles, whose victims are largely children. On the other hand, illness from the coronavirus is not rare, and the consequences can be fatal. The vaccine helps to protect against severe disease. Citizens are urged to listen to the medical experts about vaccine safety, not random people spreading false information on social media and the Internet.

Statement by Permanent Secretary for Health & Medical Services

COVID-19 Daily Update

Friday 4th June 2021

Transmission Update

We have recorded 35 new cases since our last daily update yesterday. All the cases are from the Suva-Nausori containment zone. 1 is a case from the Navy cluster that was reported last night.

The remaining 34 new cases were recorded today and are linked to the following clusters:

CWMH cluster-  10
Ministry of Health Headquarters COVID-19 Incident Management Team (IMT-HQ)- 3
IMT warehouse Lami – 11
Navosai cluster -5
Navy cluster- 2
Nadali cluster- 1

There are 2 new cases from Navosai and Tamavua  under investigation to determine any links to other cases.

The 3 cases from the Ministry of Health’s Headquarters COVID-19  IMT were picked up as a result of a program of routine swabbing of our health staff. More than 80 staff at the Ministry of Health’s Headquarters at Dinem House were swabbed – with all but the 3 returning negative results. Staff identified as primary contacts of the 3 cases will quarantine for 14 days. While secondary contacts (contacts of the primary contacts) will self quarantine at home for at least 4 days,  awaiting results of day 4 swabs of the primary contacts.

6 patients have recovered, which means there are now 378  active cases in isolation. There have been 501 cases during the current outbreak that started in April 2021.

We have recorded a total of 571 cases in Fiji since the first case in March 2020, with 189 recoveries and 4 deaths.

Surveillance Update

We continue to conduct contact tracing, screening and testing aggressively, which is our best defense against community spread until we reach our vaccination goals. Our stationary screening and mobile screening clinics screened 18,611 people yesterday from which 2582 persons were swab tested.

COVID-Safe Measures

Worldwide, we have now lived with this virus for some 15 months and have learned of the measures we need to take to prevent the spread of the virus. We know that if we simply stay isolated and not come into contact with another person, the vaccine would disappear after 14 days. Unfortunately, we can’t do that, so we need to employ other effective preventative measures. The most important among them are mask-wearing and social distancing! It is therefore distressing to see that after all these months, there are still people who refuse to accept and follow these simple measures. Yes, they are inconvenient, but they are necessary and they are effective.

If we all follow those practices, we can make great progress in stopping this virus. We also know that testing is extremely useful in preventing the spread of the virus because it allows us to identify people who have the virus and isolate them appropriately. That action has two purposes: It prevents positive patients from transmitting the virus to others, and it allows health care workers to observe them and provide medical attention when needed. The ministry urges everyone to cooperate with the surveillance teams and to agree to be screened and swabbed. It could save your life and the lives of others, and you will be doing your part to keep Fiji safe.

Despite the recent development with the IMT, the team with the leadership of the Permanent Secretary remains fully engaged in spearheading and facilitating every aspect of the current whole of government response to the outbreak in Fiji

Press Statement

COVID-19 Daily Update

Thursday 3rd June, 2021

Transmission Update

 We are reporting 28 new cases as of 6pm today. 23 of the new cases are linked to the existing clusters that follow:

Nawaka Nadi cluster- 2
CWMH cluster – 1
FICAC cluster -4
Navy cluster-  16

3 are close contacts of a case under investigation from Caubati announced yesterday

1 is under investigation with no known links to other cases at this stage

1 case from Navosai Narere was tested after presenting to Valelevu Health Centre with symptoms, investigation is ongoing into any links between this case and other cases.

2 patients have recovered, which means there are now 349 active cases in isolation. There have been 466 cases during the current outbreak that started in April 2021.

We have recorded a total of 536 cases in Fiji since the first case in March 2020, with 183 recoveries and 4 deaths.

CWMH Update

Current investigations into the situation at CWM Hospital indicate that so far the transmission was limited to specific areas of the hospital and this has allowed us to maintain services such as maternity and paediatrics, where our testing revealed no positive cases. Corridors to the affected areas have been closed. Our FEMAT teams will set up field units at Vodafone Arena and FMF Arena to provide services that will complement the services we can currently provide at the CWM facility.

Vaccination Update

We have administered 43,406 first doses and 279 second doses in Fiji from Monday, 31 May through yesterday. Most of the vaccinations this week have been in the Central and Western Divisions, where the current outbreak is centred. Since the beginning of the vaccination effort, a total of 34% of the national population has received one dose of the vaccine, and 3% have received two doses. Vaccinations will continue through Saturday and resume again on Monday, 7 June.

Update on our Surveillance and Containment Teams

While members of the Frontline team constitute the group with the highest risk of contracting the virus, the medical and military personnel who have tested positive to date are NOT part of the frontline public health response team doing surveillance and containment effort in our communities.  We rigorously screen and test our frontline personnel for their safety and the public’s safety precisely because they come into contact with persons who have been exposed to the virus. This ensures that the risk to the public from contact with our contract-tracing and containment teams is eliminated.

We expect that all frontline teams will carefully observe established Covid-safe protocol and we appreciate the feedback we get from the public in this regard. Covid-safe behavior needs to be maintained by all sections of the community, but especially those in the frontline of the public health response and clinical response.

At this time, when we have seen an escalation of cases, we wish to remind all frontline workers of the higher level of Covid-safe behavior expected by the community and our profession. The same is true for all community leaders and persons in leadership positions in our community in setting an example of a high standard for Covid-safe behavior at all times.

Media Release

COVID-19 Update

Wednesday June 2nd 2021

Evening Summary

In addition to the 22 cases announced already today, we are reporting 13 new cases this evening. All the new cases are from existing clusters:

QEB cluster – 7

CWMH cluster – 3

Nawaka, Nadi cluster – 3

Fourteen patients have recovered, which means there are now 323 active cases.

There have been 438 cases since this outbreak started in April 2021. Fiji has had 508 cases in total since our first case was reported in March 2020, with 181 recoveries and 4 deaths.

Testing update

70,807 COVID-19 laboratory tests have been conducted since this outbreak started in April, with 113,668 conducted in total since testing started in early 2020. This does not yet include the 11,000 samples recently tested in Australia.

2198 samples are reported to have been tested yesterday. This daily test total does not yet include tests counts from the laboratories at Nadi and Tamavua Twomey Hospitals so it is expected to increase.

The daily average of testing over the last 7 days is 2508 tests per day. At the national level, an average of 2.8 tests per 1000 population were conducted daily over the last 7 days. The 7 day average daily test positivity is 1.3%.

-ENDS-

Press Statement

COVID-19 Afternoon Update

2nd June 2021

Transmission Update

We recorded another 22 cases as of this morning. One new case has not yet been linked to other cases or clusters and is currently under investigation. The individual is from Caubati and was swabbed at the Valelevu stationary screening clinic after presenting with symptoms. All the other new cases are linked to existing clusters, including the new CWM Hospital cluster. All of these cases are stable and are either in isolation facilities or home isolation. The new cases are linked to the following communities and clusters:

CWMH cluster – 14
Navosai cluster – 4
Kinoya cluster – 2
Navy cluster – 1
Caubati – 1 (under investigation)

We now have had 495 cases in Fiji since our first case was recorded in March last year, and 425 during the current outbreak that started in April. We currently have 324 active cases.

Vaccination Update

An update on the vaccination program will be provided in the evening statement.

Screening and Testing Update

Screening and testing are critical tools for detecting cases of COVID and isolating infected persons to prevent further spread. We continue to screen and test people aggressively in areas of known contamination as well as people who are most vulnerable or who are at particular risk of exposure because their occupation puts them into close contact with large numbers of people. Yesterday we screened 5,882 in our stationary screening clinics of which 26% were swabbed. Our mobile teams screened 10,436 and of which 18.5% were swabbed.

We want to reassure the public that all the medical and security forces who have turned positive are not part of the public health team directly engaging the public in our containment and community surveillance programs.

CWMH Update

Last night we conducted extensive swabbing at CWM Hospital. The testing of those swabs has revealed the 14 new positive cases announced today. Swabbing has continued today and we will be awaiting more results.

We are still in the process of evaluating the data, and the results of testing will determine the best way to secure CWMH while continuing to safely provide medical services to Fijians who access health services at the hospital. Currently, CWMH is still open and providing the services delineated in last night’s update: Non-emergency outpatient services are not available, including the special outpatients department, and the Acute Medical Ward, Acute Surgical Ward, Beqa Ward, and ANZ Ward remain on lockdown.

Emergency services are continuing at CWMH. The Emergency Department is functioning and inpatient pediatrics and obstetrics services are continuing. The Maternity Ward and Children’s Wing have developed stringent screening areas in the Antenatal Clinic area and the Children’s Outpatient Department for patients requiring urgent admission. All access to from other parts of the hospital has been closed off to the Maternity and Children’s Wing. CWM hospital contingency plans for emergency scenarios have been finalised.

Appreciation

I would like to express the Ministry’s appreciation of the private sector, especially those in the hotel and accommodation industry, who stepped forward to assist us during these difficult times.

We could not have had an effective COVID response unless we could ensure the welfare and safety of our own health care workers who were at the centre of the Ministry’s COVID-19 response. Because they are out in the community finding, interviewing and testing people who may have come into contact with an infected person, we have had to isolate them from their families for weeks now. We could not have done that without the support of our hotel industry, which stepped up and provided COVID-safe and affordable accommodation for our staff. It has been a great service to the country.

The management and employees of all hotels and accommodation facilities where our staff are staying have done an outstanding job to prepare and maintain facilities that keep our staff safe and, in turn, keep us all safe.