A new daily record has been set for Fiji as 279 new COVID-19 cases have been announced as of 8am yesterday while four COVID-19 related deaths have been confirmed.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says out of the new cases, 46 are from existing containment zones or quarantine facilities in Nadi.
22 of these cases are from Nawajikuma, 8 are from Tramline, and 16 are close contacts in quarantine facilities.
Doctor Fong says the remaining 233 cases are from the Lami-Nausori Containment Zone, 196 of which are from existing areas of concern.
He says this means they are either from known clusters or they have a potential link to an existing case.
All 279 of these new patients are currently in isolation at home or in a facility.
Doctor Fong says the first two deaths were announced yesterday as being under investigation to determine if they were caused by COVID-19.
The first death was a 57-year-old man who was admitted to the CWM Hospital for a pre-existing non-COVID medical condition.
Doctor Fong says the man tested positive during his admission.
The second was a 66-year-old woman who was declared dead on arrival to the Emergency Department at CWM Hospital. In accordance with protocol, the woman was swabbed and tested positive for COVID-19. Their doctors have now confirmed that COVID-19 caused the deaths of both these individuals.
Doctor Fong says the third death was a 62-year-old man from Nausori. He was referred to the CWM Hospital on Tuesday from Nausori Health Centre in severe respiratory distress. He says the man had obvious signs and symptoms of severe COVID-19 and he tested positive later in the day. Despite the efforts of the medical team at CWM Hospital, he died on Tuesday afternoon.
The Permanent Secretary says the fourth death is a 77-year-old woman who had been admitted at CWM Hospital for a pre-existing non-COVID medical condition. She tested positive during her admission and died yesterday. Her doctors have confirmed that she died due to COVID-19.
There are nine other patients admitted at CWM Hospital with severe cases of COVID-19. One of these patients is a 30-year-old with no pre-existing illness.
Doctor Fong says 24 days ago they locked down CWM Hospital to protect its vulnerable patient population.
He says these newly admitted COVID cases are exactly why they made that decision.
However, he says that measure came at great cost, as there are specialty health services within CWM Hospital that are no longer fully available to those who need them.
Doctor Fong says the visiting AUSMAT team’s first priority is working with their teams at CWM Hospital to strengthen their infection control protocols so that COVID and non-COVID care are both available to the public.
According to the official COVID-19 dashboard, the active cases are in Toorak, Muanikau, Flagstaff, Laucala Bay, Raiwaqa, Bainiwai, Raiwasa, Vatuwaqa, Samabula, Nabua, Namadi Heights, Wailea, Kinoya, Tamavua, Nadera, Wainivula, Nasole, Nuffield in Tamavua, Wailoku, Navesi, Valelevu, Muanikoso, Narere, Makoi, Nakasi, Nausori, Noco, Wainibokasi, Naililili, Luvuluvu, Davuilevu, Colo-i-Suva, Sawani, Waila, Adi Davila Road, Wainibuku, Naqeledamu, Mokani, Namara, Baulevu, Koronivia, Korovou, Naitasiri, Laselevu, Kuku/Raralevu, Wailoku, Lami and Suvavou.
In Nadi, there are cases in Nawaka, Double Tree Quarantine Facility, Mercure Hotel Quarantine Facility, Tanoa Skylode Hotel Quarantine Facility, Nasau Resort Villas Quarantine Facility, Tanoa Quarantine Facility, Airport Apartments Quarantine Facilities and the Hilton Resort Quarantine Facility.
There are also active cases in Drasa Vitogo and Vitogo Parade in Lautoka.
There is also a case now at the Outrigger quarantine facility in Sigatoka.
