![Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong [Image: File Photo]](https://www.fijivillage.com/news_images/142127611261576366a04c231b7c59.jpg)
The Health Ministry says they have seven COVID-19 deaths to report for the period from 8th July 2021 to 30th September 2021.
Five deaths were reported from the Central Division and two deaths were reported from the Western Division.
Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says four deaths are being reported from July due to a delay in the issuance of the official death certificate.
The first COVID-19 death to report is a 71-year-old woman from Navua.
She presented to the Navua Hospital in severe respiratory distress.
A medical team retrieved her from the Navua Hospital and transferred her to the CWM Hospital.
Sadly, she died one day after admission on 12th September 2021. She was not vaccinated.
Doctor Fong says the second COVID-19 death to report is a 54-year-old woman from Lautoka.
He says she presented to the Kamikamica Health Centre with a two-day history of generalized body weakness and gastrointestinal symptoms that began on 19th September 2021.
Doctor Fong adds this woman was retrieved by a medical team and transferred to the Lautoka Hospital on the same day of her presentation 21st September 2021.
Sadly, she died 9 days after admission on 30th September 2021.
Doctor Fong says she received the first dose of the vaccine in early May.
She received the second dose of the vaccine on 8th July 2021.
He stresses that although she was fully vaccinated she had underlying medical conditions and background of poor general health.
Doctor Fong further says these pre-existing conditions would have toned down her ability to mount a good vaccine-induced immune response and thus impair her ability to fully benefit from the protective effects of the vaccine.
He says we all need to continue practicing strict COVID-19 safety measures to protect our vulnerable family members, irrespective of vaccination status.
The third COVID-19 death to report is a 76-year-old man from Suva who died at home on 09th July 2021. He was not vaccinated.
The fourth COVID-19 death to report is a 95-year-old woman from Suva who died at home on 9th July 2021. She was not vaccinated.
The fifth COVID-19 death to report is an 84-year-old man from Suva who died at home on 8th July 2021. He was not vaccinated.
The sixth COVID-19 death to report is a 75-year-old woman from Waila who died at home on 15th July 2021. She was not vaccinated.
The seventh COVID-19 death to report is a 59-year-old man from Rakiraki.
He presented to the Rakiraki Hospital with severe respiratory distress. Sadly, he died on the same day 28th September 2021. He was not vaccinated.
There have also been 14 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 631 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji.
