Fiji has reported 721 new positive COVID-19 cases and six deaths Thursday.
Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the first COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman from Vatuwaqa.
Dr Fong said a ministry response team attended to her at home and, assessing that she was severely ill, transferred her to the FEMAT field hospital.
He said she reportedly had been having symptoms of COVID-19 at home for approximately three weeks.
“Her conditions worsened at the FEMAT field hospital and she died a few hours later. She was not vaccinated,” Dr Fong said.
He said the second COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old woman from Mead Road.
“She was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the CWMH Hospital Emergency Department,” he said.
“This means that she died at home or on her way to the hospital. Her family reported that she had been unwell for at least three days at home. She was not vaccinated,” he added.
“The third COVID-19 death is a 51-year-old woman from Gaji Road. She was admitted at the CWM Hospital with COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough and generalized body pains). Her condition worsened in hospital and she died 11 days after admission. She was not vaccinated.
“The fourth COVID-19 death is a 44-year-old man from Laucala Beach Estate. He presented to the CWM Hospital emergency department in severe respiratory distress. His family reported that he had COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, weakness and headache) for one week. His condition worsened in hospital and he died 4 days after admission. He received his 1st dose of the vaccine in mid-June. He had not received the second dose of the vaccine and was not fully vaccinated.
“The fifth COVID-19 death is a 68-year-old woman from Delainivesi, Lami. Her family brought her to the CWM Hospital Emergency Department after she was noted to be unresponsive. Her family reported that she had been feeling unwell at home two days before. She died on the same day. She was not vaccinated.
“The sixth COVID-19 death is a 52-year-old woman from Raiwai. She was brought by her family to the CWM Hospital Emergency Department. Her family reported that she had been unwell with cough, shortness of breath, generaliSed weakness and vomiting, for at least three days. Her condition worsened in hospital and she died one day later. She was not vaccinated.” said Dr Fong.
He said there have now been 48 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 46 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year
“We also have recorded 19 COVID-19 positive patients who died from the serious medical conditions that they had before they contracted COVID-19.
“There have been 101 new recoveries reported since the last update, which means that there are now 7,138 active cases. There have been 8,591 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 8,661 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 1,456 recoveries,” said Dr Fong.
He said 184,613 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 227,474 tested since testing began in early 2020.
“The national 7-day daily test average is 3502 tests per day or 4 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 14.4% and continues on an upward trend.
“As of 07 July, 335,305 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 59,574 have received their second doses. This means that 57% of the target population has received at least one dose and 10.2% are now fully vaccinated nationwide,” said Dr Fong
He said the 7-day average of new cases per day has increased to 545 cases per day or 615 cases per million population per day.
“Daily case numbers are expected to continue to increase, along with an increase in people with COVID-19 requiring hospitalisation, and sadly, more deaths.
“Our FEMAT field hospital has begun the transition into a COVID-19 dedicated hospital. And we have set up an emergency number 165 for people with severe COVID-19 symptoms to contact if they cannot get to a hospital themselves.
“Sadly, we continue to see people with severe COVID-19 dying at home or coming to a medical facility in the late stages of severe illness and dying within a day or two. Severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency and a delay in receiving appropriate medical treatment may result in a higher risk of death,” Dr Fong stressed.
SOURCE: FIJI TIMES/PACNEWS
