Last Updated on 41 mins by Publishing Team
Media Release
COVID-19 Daily Update
Tuesday, 14th September 2021
Transmission Update
We have 131 new cases of COVID-19 to report for the 24 hour period that ended at 8 am today. 63 cases are from the Western Division, 66 cases are from the Central Division and 2 cases are from the Eastern Division.
There have been 104 new recoveries to report since the last update, which means that there are now 12,951 active cases. 1,480 active cases are in the Central Division, 11,164 active cases in the Western Division, 2 active cases in the Northern Division (Macuata), and 305 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 49,174 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 49,244 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 35,388 recoveries.
Deaths
There is one new COVID-19 death to report today. The one death reported was for the Central Division.
The first COVID-19 death to report is a 63-year-old man from Navua. He presented to the Navua Hospital in severe respiratory distress. Sadly, he died on the same day (12/09/2021). He received the 1st dose of the vaccine in mid-August. He did not receive the second dose of the vaccine. This means that he was not fully vaccinated.
There have now been 539 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 537 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 9th, 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 366 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.
Hospitalisations
There are currently 110 COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital. 35 patients are admitted at the Lautoka Hospital, 5 patients are admitted at the FEMAT field hospital, and 70 admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi. 8 patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 3 are in critical condition.
Screening Update
A total of 9,503 individuals were screened and 609 swabbed at our stationary screening clinics in the last 24 hours, bringing our cumulative total to 586,365 individuals screened and 94,990 swabbed to date. Our mobile screening teams screened a total of 1,491 individuals and swabbed 344. This brings our cumulative total to 831,099 individuals screened and 74,264 swabbed by our mobile teams.
Testing Update
A total of 349,731 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 392,592 tested since testing began in March 2020. 1494 tests have been reported for September 13th. The 7-day daily test average is 1,096 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%, which is on a downward trend but still indicating a high level of community transmission.
Vaccination Update
As of the 13th of September 573,247 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 350,007 have received their second doses. This means that 97.3% of the target population have received at least one dose and 59.6% 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 156 cases per day or 176 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, hospitalisations, 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.
One new case was recorded in Kadavu in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of cases on the island to 474. Twelve patients are currently admitted at Vunisea hospital; 5 are COVID positive and currently in stable condition, and 7 are negative for COVID-19. Mobile outreach teams continue with their visits to villages and settlements carrying out the follow-up of primary contacts, monitoring of positive patients and clearance, roll out of COVID-19 vaccination, MCH clinic, and immunization of babies, GOPD consultation, and SOPD clinic with medicine replenishment. Kavala health team is continuing with 2nd dose vaccinations as well as 1st dose jabs as part of the mop-up campaign. Movement restrictions and targeted village lockdowns for Tawava village and the villages in Yawe tikina remain in force.
No new cases have been reported for Malolo Island in the last 24 hours. Of the total 56 cases diagnosed to date, 30 individuals have recovered and 26 remain active cases. Daily assessment continues for the active cases and their contacts, and surveillance of the villages. Movement restrictions remain in force for all villages on the island.
No new cases have been reported on Naviti Island in the last 24 hours. Of the total 146 cases so far, 142 remain active cases and are under surveillance by the health team. Movement restrictions are in place for all villages.
A total of 26 cases have now been confirmed on Waya Island with positive cases spread over the 6 villages on the island. 25 cases remain active and under home isolation in their villages with a daily assessment conducted by the Yalobi nursing station health team. The island remains under strict movement restrictions.
Nacula Island has a total of 23 confirmed cases, shared between the two villages of Nacula and Naisisili. The positive cases are under isolation in their respective villages and monitored daily by the health team from Nacula health center. The other 4 villages and 2 settlements on the Island have recorded no positive cases to date. Strict movement restriction remains in place for the whole island.
Beqa island recorded 10 new cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of cases on the island to 58. Fifty-seven cases are active and followed up daily through visitation and phone calls by the health team. The health response team is split into 2 teams to undertake screening of the population, monitoring of cases, education and awareness on COVID safe measures and vaccination, and revisiting new positive cases. The island remains on movement restriction.
Public Updates and Advice:
As the second dose coverage increases, it is expected that internal borders within Viti Levu will be lifted soon. Unfortunately, villages and settlements in our rural areas continue to record low vaccination coverage. As such the public needs to remain cautious about how they engage in the greater freedom of movement that they will be enjoying. Whilst we understand that increased public movement is needed to facilitate livelihood and to get more families together we will be outlining further measures to reduce the risk that travelers will place on these villages and communities. Please vaccinate, adhere to COVID safe measures and avoid contained spaces and crowds.