![Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong [image: File]](https://www.fijivillage.com/news_images/20470848596138f128a0767e4ca738.jpg)
A 4-month old baby is among the 3 COVID-19 deaths that were recorded between 30th August to 7th September.
All three deaths were from the Central Division.
The Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says the 4-month old baby presented to a health centre in mild respiratory distress on 1st September.
Dr Fong says he was medically assessed and stabilized by the attending medical officer and was then transferred to the CWM Hospital for specialist care.
He further says as per protocol upon admission, he was tested for COVID-19 and was noted to be positive.
Dr Fong adds his mother reported that he had a cough and was noted to be irritable two days prior to their presentation and developed a fever on the night prior to his presentation.
Dr Fong says sadly, he died five days after admission on 6th September.
The second COVID-19 death is a 66-year-old man from Naitasiri who died at home on 7th September. He received the first dose of the vaccine in mid-June. He did not receive the second dose of the vaccine. This means that he was not fully vaccinated.
The third COVID-19 death is a 76-year-old man from Naitasiri. He presented to the Vunidawa Hospital in severe respiratory distress and passed away on 30th August. He received the first dose of the vaccine in early-July. He did not receive the second dose of the vaccine. This means that he was not fully vaccinated.
There have been 8 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 528 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 526 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year.
The 7 day rolling average for COVID-19 deaths per day in the Central Division is 1 and in the Western Division is 3.
Fiji has also recorded 353 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.
