Fiji’s Ministry of Health announced 1100 new coronavirus infections yesterday with cases in the West increasing six times overnight and new deaths totalling six, the most reported in a day involving victims aged between 39 and 90 years.
Five of the six, all unvaccinated, presented to a health facility in severe respiratory distress, dying within eight days of admission.
Two of the six West deaths were recorded in Sigatoka and one at Nadi Hospital, possibly the first reported deaths from these areas.
It is unlikely this will be the last time such incidents will be reported from the West with the ministry acknowledging increasing community transmission in the division, with it more people with severe disease.
Of the new cases recorded as of 8 am yesterday, 386 are from the West and 714 in the central division, with recoveries numbering 589 bringing active cases to 22,592 of which nearly 84% reside in the central division including at least 10 cases on Beqa Island.
There have been 31,443 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 31,513 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 8,531 recoveries.
Deaths
We have 13 new COVID-19 deaths to report for the period of 29 July- 1 August, with seven reported in the central division, and six in the West. None of the deceased was fully vaccinated.
- 79-year-old man, Rewa
- Died at home on 1 August 2021.
- Received the first dose of the vaccine in mid-July.
- 48-year-old man, Nepani.
- Presented to the CWM Hospital emergency department in severe respiratory distress.
- His condition worsened at the hospital and he died on 31 July.
- Partly vaccinated, having received the first dose of the vaccine in early June.
- 67-year-old man, Lami
- Died at home on 31 July 2021.
- He was not vaccinated.
- 69-year-old man, Suva
- Died at home on 30 July.
- He was not vaccinated.
- 44-year-old woman, Lami.
- Presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress.
- A medical team retrieved her from the medical facility and brought her to the CWM hospital.
- Her condition worsened in the hospital and she died on 30 July, two days after admission.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 77 year old woman, Tamavua.
- Presented to the FEMAT field hospital in severe respiratory distress.
- Retrieved from the FEMAT field hospital and taken to the CWM Hospital.
- Her condition worsened in the hospital and she died on 29 July, 12 days after admission.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 87-year-old woman, Nakasi.
- She presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress.
- A medical team retrieved her from the medical facility and brought her to the CWM Hospital.
- Her condition worsened in the hospital and she died on 2 August, 14 days after admission.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 55-year-old woman, Lautoka.
- Presented to the Lautoka Hospital in severe respiratory distress.
- She died on 1 August, six 6 days after admission.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 39-year-old woman, Lautoka.
- Presented to the Lautoka Hospital in severe respiratory distress.
- Her condition worsened in the hospital and she died on 1 August, eight days after admission.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 53-year-old woman, Nadi.
- Presented to the Nadi Hospital in severe respiratory distress.
- She died on 1 August, one day after admission.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 55-year-old woman, Lautoka.
- Presented to the Lautoka Hospital in severe respiratory distress.
- Her condition worsened in the hospital and she died on 1 August, two days after admission.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 81-year-old woman, Sigatoka.
- She presented to the Sigatoka Hospital in severe respiratory distress.
- She died on 31 August, three days after she was admitted.
- She was not vaccinated.
- 90-year-old man, Sigatoka
- Died at home on 29 July
- He was not vaccinated.
There have been six more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients. However, their deaths have been classified as non-COVID deaths as they were caused by serious pre-existing medical conditions, medical officials say.
COVID19 deaths in Fiji have risen to 254 with 252 reported during the April outbreak. Non-COVID deaths increased to 136.
Hospitalisations
There are currently 302 COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital. Twenty-three (23) patients are admitted to Lautoka hospital. In Suva, 80 patients are admitted at the FEMAT field hospital, and 199 were admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi. 50 patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 13 are in critical condition.
Screening Update
A total of 992 individuals were screened and 163 swabbed at our stationary screening clinics in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative total to 394,294 individuals screened and 71,762 swabbed to date.
As of 1 August, mobile screening teams screened a total of 289 individuals and swabbed 41. This brings the cumulative total to 770,493 individuals screened and 68,102 swabbed by our mobile teams.
Testing update
A total of 277,016 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 319,877 tested since testing began in March 2020. 3223 tests have been reported for July 31st. Testing number data for one lab for July 31st is pending. Based on available data the national 7-day daily test average is 3296 tests per day or 3.7 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 31.8 %.
Vaccination Update
As of 1 August, 484,629 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 144,194 have received their second doses. This means that 82.6% of the target population have received at least one dose and 24.6% are now fully vaccinated nationwide.
Epidemic Outlook
The 7-day average of new cases per day is 1013 cases per day or 1145 cases per million population per day.
