Fiji records 81 new cases of COVID-19, three new deaths reported

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1907

Fiji has recorded 81 new cases of COVID-19 and three new deaths Wednesday, increasing the total number of cases to 50,883 and 622 deaths since the outbreak in April.

Permanent secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said there have been 57 new recoveries to report since the last update, which means that there are now 12,881 active cases.

“There have been 50,883 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 50,953 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 36,977 recoveries,” he said.

He said the three new COVID-19 deaths reported for the period of 24 July – 05 September 2021.

All three COVID-19 deaths were reported from the Central division. These deaths reported Wednesday due to a delay in the issuance of the official death certificates.

“There have been nine more deaths of COVID-19 positive patients. However, these deaths have been classified as non-COVID deaths by their doctors. The doctors have determined that these deaths were caused by a serious pre-existing medical condition and not COVID-19.

“There have now been 624 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 622 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year. As of 24 September, the national seven days rolling average of COVID-19 deaths per day is 0.5. The seven days rolling average for COVID-19 deaths per day in the Central division is 0.1 and 0.4 in the Western division.

“We have also recorded 471 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 explained.

He said there are currently 88 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals in Fiji.

“47 patients are admitted at the Lautoka Hospital and 41 are admitted at CWM hospital, St Giles, and Makoi.

“Four patients are considered to be in severe condition, and five are in critical condition,” said Dr Fong.

The national seven-day average daily test positivity is 8.2 percent, which is on a downward trend, but it still is indicating a high level of community transmission, he said.

To date, 592,242 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 448,128 have received their second doses.

“Based on our updated total population of 618,173 people aged 18 years and over (adults), the revised vaccination coverage rates are 95.8 percent for adults who have received at least one dose, and 72.5 percent are now fully vaccinated nationwide.

“As for children, 17,996 children in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine as of 24/09/2021,” said Dr Fong.

SOURCE: PACNEWS