COVID-19

There were nine deaths between the 26th and 27th of this month.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that there have been 245 new recoveries reported since the last update.

There are now 20,200 active cases.

Of the new cases announced yesterday, 293 cases are from the Western Division and 1008 cases are from the Central Division.

17,774 active cases are in the Central Division and 2,426 in the West.

53 patients are considered to be in severe condition, and 16 are in critical condition.

Since April, Fiji's COVID-19 outbreak has escalated to more than 25,000 cases.

However, in June Fiji began distinguishing between COVID-19 deaths and people who tested positive for the disease but died of other medical conditions.

Michael Baker, a professor of public health at Otago University, said Fiji may be downplaying the pandemic's cost.

Earlier today, Sports Illustrated confirmed US pole vaulter Sam Kendricks had tested positive and is out of the Tokyo Olympic games.

As a matter of precaution, Australians and others identified as close contacts will now be tested and will await their results.

Results can be returned in about six hours, but that will be a long six hours for those waiting to have their concerns confirmed or put aside, not to mention the stress of having training cut short.

This is precisely the scenario many had predicted ahead of the games and now the system will be tested in full.

Australia's largest city has been under stay-at-home orders since late June due to an outbreak of the Delta variant.

More than 2,500 people have been infected in Sydney's worst outbreak this year.

New South Wales - of which Sydney is the capital - reported 177 new cases on Wednesday, the most in a day since March 2020.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was not possible for the city to exit lockdown on Friday as had been planned.

She announced further curbs on movement - including a 10km (6.5 miles) limit on essential shopping.

Sixty of those cases are known to have been in the community while infectious.

A further 19 cases were in isolation for only part of their infectious period and the isolation status of another 32 cases are under investigation.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the main focus of concern had shifted to Western Sydney.

"We are now seeing the virus becoming more prevalent in Western Sydney than south-west Sydney," she said.

A statement from the Government said there is no need to do anything different or self-isolate.

The statement was issued following a report of crew on a cargo vessel testing positive for COVID-19 on 25 July.

The vessel was seeking to enter Nauru.

However, it did not enter Nauru and all crew remain isolated on board.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the Health workers who took the samples and transport workers who transferred the Health workers have been accommodated in quarantine.”

The Head of Health Protection, Dr Aalisha Sahukhan said a 44-year-old pregnant health care worker from Suva arrived at a medical facility with shortness of breath and chest pain.

The health worker’s baby was delivered by the emergency cesarean team at the CWM Hospital. She was not vaccinated.

She is one of the nine people that died from the virus from 21st to 25th July.

From the list of deaths, seven others were not vaccinated while one was not fully vaccinated.

Fiji has recorded a total of 626 new COVID-19 cases for the period ending at 8am yesterday.

The death of the centenarian is one of 15 deaths recorded between 19 July and 21 July.

Fiji has recorded a total of 918 COVID-19 cases in the 24 hour period ending at 8am yesterday.

According to the Ministry of Health, of the 15 new deaths, 11 people were over the age of 60 while the other four were in their 40s and 50s.

161 people have died from COVID-19, with 159 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year.

There have been 179 new recoveries reported since the last update.

There are now 16,403 active cases.

Kolisi leads a side which includes 11 of the players who started the World Cup final win over England in 2019.

Handre Pollard will win his 50th international cap after being selected at fly-half.

"We know what the players selected can do," said head coach Jacques Nienaber.

"The fact that most of the players participated in the Rugby World Cup means they know one another well on and off the field."

Kolisi, 30, played in the win over Georgia on 2 July, but only joined up with the squad in Cape Town on Monday after having to self-isolate for 10 days.

A third state went into lockdown on Tuesday. Stay-at-home orders are now in place in South Australia, Victoria and parts of New South Wales.

Many people have expressed frustration at being back in highly policed lockdowns 18 months into the pandemic.

And re-openings in the UK and the US have put pressure on the government.

Fewer than 14% of people are vaccinated - the worst rating among OECD nations.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been heavily criticised over the slow vaccination rate, but has resisted calls to apologise.