COVID-19

Covid: Hong Kong's hospitals overwhelmed amid spike in cases

The government has admitted it is struggling to contain the fifth wave of infections, fuelled by Omicron. But it has ruled out a city-wide lockdown.

A record 4,285 new cases were reported on Wednesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the local leaders to take "all necessary measures", in a rare intervention.

The comments may signal tighter controls in China's special administrative region, which pursues a zero Covid policy - but without the strict mass testing and lockdowns seen in mainland China.

Fiji records drop in Covid-19 cases

     The Ministry of Health said there are now 141 active cases and only another 17 new cases were reported until 8am yesterday.

There is also one new Covid-19 death, who is a 91-year-old woman from the Central Division.

The woman died at her home on Thursday and was not vaccinated.

There have been a total of 820 deaths due to Covid-19 in Fiji.

Overall, there have been 63,406 cases of Covid-19 recorded.

The ministry said 91,414 people have received Moderna booster doses, and 60 people have received the Pfizer booster Covid-19 vaccine.

Cook Islands detects first Covid case

Prime Minister Mark Brown said this case was not connected to the visitor who tested positive for Omicron after leaving Rarotonga and arriving back in New Zealand last Monday.

He said this person - who is currently isolated and under observation at their private holiday accommodation - arrived in Rarotonga last Thursday.

They were a close contact of a family member in Auckland who tested positive on Sunday in New Zealand.

Brown said as a precaution this person got tested, and was asymptomatic, but she returned a positive result in just a few hours later.

Solomon Islands govt Covid-19 measures includes reopening casinos

On Saturday the government announced that churches, bars and night-clubs in the Honiara Emergency zone will stay shut, except for casinos.

This comes as Covid-19 rips through Solomon Islands, especially in the capital.

As of late last week there were more than 4,000 cases in the country and at least 50 deaths.

Mr Wale claims the exemption for the casinos is purely political to support businesses with links to the government.

He asks how casinos can be any different from churches in terms of helping spread Covid.

 

Pacific Covid-19 survivors in New Zealand wanted for new study

The study, which is led by Victoria University, will ask nearly 8,700 people over the age of 16, what it was like to live with Covid-19.     

Pacific team leader Tuiloma Lina Samu is making sure people are able to take part in the survey in many Pacific languages. 

“If you are willing to take part, you can go through an interview with our Pacific researchers to fa’amatala, to go deeper into what you experienced when you went through Covid, as well your family members.”

Pasifika Festival cancelled

The event was due to be held from 18-20 March at Western Springs Park and marked the 30th anniversary of Pasifika.

The festival can only be delivered at the orange or green Covid-19 Protection Framework settings.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said the cancellation is disappointing but the right call given the risks posed with Omicron spreading rapidly in the community.

 

Photo PMN News  Caption: Pasifika Festival

     

Charles met Queen two days before testing Covid positive

They say the monarch is not showing any symptoms of coronavirus.

Prince Charles tested positive on Thursday morning - it is the second time he has contracted the virus.

The previous evening, he and the Duchess of Cornwall met Chancellor Rishi Sunak and others at a reception in the British Museum.

Camilla has tested negative for coronavirus, Clarence House said.

Buckingham Palace has not confirmed whether the Queen has tested positive or negative, citing medical privacy.

Moana Pasifika's Super Rugby debut in doubt

Moana Pasifika's final pre-season match is likely to be cancelled this weekend after a member of its training squad, who was with the team before it headed to Queenstown, was deemed a close contact.

A Blues player has also been deemed a close contact and is now isolating at the team's Queenstown hotel.

Players from both teams have so far returned negative results after rapid antigen tests but New Zealand Rugby's Chris Lendrum said they're waiting on more definitive PCR tests.

Fiji has recorded two new Covid-19 related deaths

A 75-year-old man with pre-existing medical condition died at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva on the first of this month.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said the man was not fully vaccinated as he had only received one dose of the vaccine.

The other death is that of a 64-year-old man from the Central Division with a significant pre-existing medical condition.

He was admitted to the CWM Hospital on the third of this month and passed away a day later. He had only received the first dose of the vaccine.

6-month-old infant is Fiji’s latest victim to die of Covid-19

The baby was admitted at the CWM Hospital in Suva and her medical records reflected that she had a congenital medical condition that contributed to the severity of her illness and death on Monday.

All eight deceased were from the Central Division.

809 people have died due to COVID-19 in Fiji so far.

The Ministry of Health also recorded 95 new cases of which 83 are from n Tuesday and 12 new cases in the last 24 hours ending at 8 am yesterday.