A 10-day old baby girl, an 8-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy who had pre-existing medical conditions and were unvaccinated are 12 of the new COVID-19 deaths reported by the Health Ministry.
96 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported by the Health Ministry so far during the third wave.
Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says of the new deaths reported – two deaths were from the Central Division, five from the Western Division, one from the Eastern Division and four from the Northern Division.
He says three of the individuals who died were below the age of 18-years-old and were not eligible for vaccination.
Doctor Fong adds two individuals had congenital medical comorbidities from birth which contributed to the severity of their sickness and demise.
He further says that out of the nine individuals who were in the target age group for vaccination, six people were fully vaccinated and three were unvaccinated.
Doctor Fong confirms the deaths of individuals below the age of 18 are now being reported after a thorough investigation done by the Ministry. He says the first COVID-19 death is an 8-year-old girl from the Northern Division.
She died at home on 12th January 2022.
Doctor Fong also confirms this girl had a significant congenital medical condition that likely contributed to her death.
She was not eligible for vaccination.
Doctor Fong adds the second COVID-19 death is a 13-year-old boy from the Northern Division.
This boy presented to Nabouwalu Hospital on 6th January 2022 and was admitted.
Doctor Fong says sadly this boy died on 15th January 2022, nine days after his admission.
He says the boy had a significant congenital medical condition and an assessment made by medical consultants confirmed that his pre-existing conditions contributed to his death.
This boy was not vaccinated.
The third COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old man from the Northern Division who died at home on 14th January 2022.
He was not vaccinated.
Doctor Fong says the fourth COVID-19 death is a 10-day old baby girl from the Northern Division.
He confirms the baby was born to a COVID-positive mother without any complications at birth.
Doctor Fong says the baby girl sadly passed away at home before she could be brought to the hospital.
He adds a post-mortem COVID test was noted to be positive.
She was not eligible for vaccination.
The fifth COVID-19 death is a 98-year-old woman from the Western Division who died on arrival at Lautoka Hospital on 16th January 2022.
She was fully vaccinated.
Doctor Fong adds the sixth COVID-19 death is an 81-year-old woman from the Western Division who died at home on 16th January 2022.
She was fully vaccinated.
The seventh COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old male from the Western Division, who died on arrival at Tavua Hospital on 18th January 2022.
He had pre-existing medical conditions and was not vaccinated.
The eighth COVID-19 death is a 75-year-old woman from the Western Division, who died at home on 20th January 2022.
She was fully vaccinated.
The ninth COVID-19 death is a 72-year-old woman from the Central Division, who died at home on 21st January 2022.
She had pre-existing medical conditions and was fully vaccinated.
The tenth COVID-19 death is a 46-year-old woman from the Western Division, who died at home.
She was not vaccinated.
The eleventh COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man from the Eastern Division, who died at home on 21st January 2022.
He was fully vaccinated.
The twelfth COVID-19 death is a 79-year-old man from the Central Division, who died on arrival at CWM Hospital on 22nd January 2022. He was fully vaccinated.
Doctor Fong says the deaths of the three children from COVID-19 announced today is a sad reminder of the legacy of COVID 19.
He stresses that as cases increase to very high numbers in the community, our most vulnerable are at increased risk of being infected and suffering from severe disease.
Doctor Fong says severe disease is rare in children but this risk increases should they have significant underlying health conditions.
He stresses that by vaccinating and maintaining our COVID safe measures, we protect the vulnerable among us.
Doctor Fong adds if community transmission is high enough, rare outcomes will become more frequent.
He stresses that looking after the vulnerable needs to be a community-wide effort.
Doctor Fong further says the public needs to be aware of the symptoms of severe COVID-19 disease and early presentation to a health facility when severe symptoms are present are critical protection measures that we should know and act upon.
The severe symptoms to look out for are: having trouble breathing (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing), ongoing chest pain, severe headache, confusion, inability to stay awake or wake up, pale, grey or blue-coloured skin, lips or fingernails, worsening weakness and coughing blood.
