Record new recoveries as new COVID-19 case numbers drop

Fiji reported a new daily highest in recoveries at almost 800 as new coronavirus infections’ drop below 500, for the first time in almost two weeks.

At 792 new recoveries and 468 new cases, this is also the first time in months that Fiji has had more recoveries than new cases, but similar to recent cases, the majority of the numbers are coming from the screening clinics in the Lami-Nausori zone and COVID-19 deaths are highest among non-vaccinated individuals.

Of the 468 new cases, more than half were detected in screening clinics and of the 11 new deaths, seven were unvaccinated and four, partially vaccinated having received only the first dose of the vaccine.

Total recoveries stand at 5,521, active cases, 16,061 and there have been 21,759 cases during the outbreak or 21,829 since the first case in 2020.

• 11 new COVID-19 deaths (for the period of 21 – 22 July) 
  • 82-year-old woman, Samabula
    • Died at home on 22 July
    • Unvax
  • 56-year-old woman, Vatuwaqa
    • Died at home on 22 July.
    • Unvax
  • 85-year-old woman, Cunningham
    • Died at home on 22 July.
    • Unvax
  • 51-year-old man, Tacirua
    • Died at home on 22 July
    • Unvax
  • 79-year-old woman, Lami
    • Died at home on 22 July
    • Unvax.
  • 63-year-old man, Davuilevu
    • Died at home on 22 July
    • Unvax
  • 40-year-old man, Kalokolevu Village
    • Died at home on 22 July
    • Unvaccinated
  • 84-year-old man, Caubati
    • Died at home on 22 July 2021
    • Partly vaxxed – received his first dose mid-April. He did not receive the second dose of the vaccine
  • 63-year-old woman, Toorak
    • Died at home on 23 July
    • Partly vaxxed – received her first dose in early July.
  • 64-year-old man, Nasinu
    • Died at home on 21 July.
    • Partly vaxxed – received his first dose in late May. He did not receive the second dose of the vaccine.
  • 66-year-old man, Nausori.
    • He presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress. A medical team retrieved him from a health facility and brought him to the CWM Hospital.
    • His condition worsened in the hospital and he died two days later – 23 July
    • Partly vaxxed – received his first dose in early June. He did not receive the second dose of the vaccine.

The new COVID19 deaths bring to 172 total deaths since 2020, of which 170 happened during the outbreak. Seven other COVID-19 positive patients also died but whose deaths have been attributed to pre-existing illness likewise 68 other cases recorded earlier in the outbreak.

There is one more death that remains under investigation. This will be discussed once investigations (including test results) and classifications are complete. 

Screening Update
A total of 6,252 individuals were screened and 1,979 swabbed at our stationary screening clinics in the last 24 hours, bringing our cumulative total to 349,222 individuals screened and 63,950 swabbed to date. Our mobile screening teams screened a total of 4,015 individuals and swabbed 875 in the last 24 hours. This brings our cumulative total to 734,716 individuals screened and 64,812 swabbed by our mobile teams to date.

Testing update
A total of 243,743 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 286,604 tested since testing began in March 2020. 3747 tests have been reported for 21 July. The national 7-day daily test average is 3742 tests per day or 4.2 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 28.8 %.  

Epidemic Outlook
The 7-day average of new cases per day is 934 cases per day or 1056 cases per million population per day.