Fiji has recorded 784 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths reported Monday.
Permanent secretary for Health Dr James Fong said the new COVID-19 deaths for the period of 12 – 19 July.
“The first COVID-19 death to report is a 65-year-old woman from Laucala Beach. She presented to the CWM Hospital Emergency Department in severe respiratory distress. She died 7 days after admission (18/07/2021). She received the 1st dose of the vaccine in earlyJune. She had not received the 2nd dose of the vaccine. This means that she was not fully vaccinated.
“The second COVID-19 death to report is a 77-year-old man from Valelevu who died at home on 18/07/2021. He was not vaccinated.
“The third COVID-19 death to report is a 47-year-old man from Lami who died at home on 12/07/2021. He was not vaccinated.
“The fourth COVID-19 death to report is a 67-year-old woman from Nasinu who died at home (17/07/2021). Her family reported that she was unwell with COVID-19 symptoms for one week prior. She was not vaccinated.
“The fifth COVID-19 death to report is a 51-year-old man from Colo-I-Suva who died at home on 17/07/2021. He was not vaccinated.
“he sixth COVID-19 death to report is a 40-year-old man from Lami. He presented to the FEMAT field hospital in respiratory distress. He died 6 days after admission (17/07/2021). He was not vaccinated.
“The seventh COVID-19 death to report is a 72-year-old man from Nabua. He presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress. He was retrieved by a medical team to the CWM hospital. He died one day later in hospital (18/07/2021). He was not vaccinated.
“The eighth COVID-19 death to report is a 65-year-old man from Suva who died at home on 18/07/2021. He was not vaccinated.
“The ninth COVID-19 death to report is a 81-year-old woman from Samabula. She presented to the CWM Hospital emergency department in severe respiratory distress. She died in hospital on the same day 19/07/2021. She was not vaccinated.
“The tenth COVID-19 death to report is a 63-year-old man from Delainaivesi who died at home (17/07/2021). He was not vaccinated.
“The eleventh COVID-19 death to report is a 79-year-old woman from Cunningham who died at home (17/07/2021). She was not fully vaccinated.
“The twelfth COVID-19 death to report is a 73-year-old woman from Suva. She presented to the FEMAT field hospital in severe respiratory distress. She died in hospital one day later on 18/07/2021. She was not vaccinated.
“The thirteenth COVID-19 death to report is a 83-year-old man from Nasese. He presented to the FEMAT field hospital in severe respiratory distress. He died four days after admission on 17/07/2021. He was not vaccinated.
“The fourteenth COVID-19 death to report is a 65-year-old man from Suva. He presented to the CWM hospital in severe respiratory distress. He died in hospital on 18/07/2021. He was not vaccinated.
“The fifteenth COVID-19 death to report is a 50-year-old woman from Dakuibeqa. She presented to the CWM hospital in severe respiratory distress and she died in hospital on 16/07/2021. She was not vaccinated,” Dr Fong said.
He said there are 17 more deaths currently under investigation.
“These will be discussed once investigations (including test results) and classifications are complete.
“There have been 7 more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients. However, their deaths have been classified as non-COVID deaths by their doctors. Doctors have determined that these deaths were caused by serious pre-existing medical conditions and not COVID-19.
“There have now been 113 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 111 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year. We also have recorded 48 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,” Dr Fong said.
He said there have been 125 new recoveries which means that there are now 14,247 active cases.
“There have been 18,228 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 18,298 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 3,890 recoveries.
“The national 7-day daily test average is 3875 tests per day or 4.4 tests per 1,000 population. The national 7-day average daily test positivity is 26% and continues on an upward trend.
“The 7-day average of new cases per day is 988 cases per day or 1116 cases per million population per day. With the high numbers of new daily cases we are also seeing increasing cases of severe disease and deaths,” said Dr Fong.
Dr Fong confirmed COVID-19 infections are widespread across the Suva-Nausori containment zone.
“This means that if you develop any of the symptoms of COVID-19 you should assume you have COVID19 and isolate yourself at home. Do not wait for a positive test result to self isolate. Isolating yourself will help to stop the spread of COVID-19 to others.
“Severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency, and a delay in receiving appropriate medical treatment reduces your chance of recovering from the disease. You do not need to have a positive test result to watch out for these symptoms,” he said.
The severe symptoms of COVID-19, which include the following:
• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• Severe headache for a few days
• New confusion, inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds
Dr Fong said in the Suva-Nausori Containment zone they have identified health facilities specifically designated to receive people with symptoms of severe COVID-19.
As of the 17th July 393,095 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 78,624 have received their second doses. This means that 67% of the target population have received at least one dose and 13.4 % are now fully vaccinated nationwide, he said.
SOURCE: PACNEWS
