Fiji

Fiji reports shortage of Covid-19 booster doses

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said 142, 240 people are due to receive the booster dose this month, but the current stocks of the Moderna vaccine, which is being used as the booster dose, are in excess of 100,000 doses.

Dr Fong reassured that they are expecting more of the Pfizer vaccine by the middle of this month.

Since administering the booster jab, 39,179 people in Fiji have so far received their dose.

Meanwhile, the vaccination campaign also continues around the country.

Covid-19: Fiji health system overwhelmed by third wave

Health staff who test positive for Covid-19 are being isolated which the government says has contributed to depleted staff numbers in the front-line.

Fiji's Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, containing any transmission is priority.

"What we've done is to make sure, we've used the available young doctors at CWM. They have been mobilized to support them in the health centres. So now they have a full cohort back on the ground," he said.

 

Photo file  Caption:  CWM Hospital in Suva Fiji  

Fiji records over 400 new Covid-19 cases

The Ministry of Health confirmed that 368 cases of the total were recorded on Sunday and 93 in the

24 hours ending at 8 am on Monday.

MOH is still yet to release their latest update from yesterday.

Fiji has also recorded five deaths from Covid-19 in its latest update.

The first Covid-19 death is of a 63-year-old female from Tavua, who died on the 6th of this month.

She had significant pre-existing medical conditions and was fully vaccinated.

The second is of a 75-year-old unvaccinated man from Nausori.

Over 4,000 people in evacuation centres in Fiji

This has been confirmed by the National Disaster Management Office.

As heavy rain continues to be experienced in parts of the country, the NDMO said a total of 156 evacuation centres have been opened.

There are 106 centres open in the Western Division, 33 centres in the Central Division, 16 in the North, and one in the Eastern Division.

     

Cyclone leaves Fiji but flood risk continues

The category 1 storm left one person dead, caused widespread flooding which forced close to 2,000 people to flee their homes and seek shelter at 110 evacuation centres activated across Fiji.

Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu said the capital Suva was spared by Cody, but it had belted the whole of the main island Viti Levu with heavy rains since late last week.

Flash flooding was reported across the country and Seruiratu said Cody may intensify to a category 2 storm as it moved south west out of Fiji.

Fiji reports 5 deaths, 1,280 new Covid-19 cases amid Cyclone Cody

1,280 new cases of Covid-19 were reported last weekend, taking the total number of active cases to 4,429.

Health Secretary James Fong also confirmed the death toll is now 709.

Dr Fong said the five victims all died at home including a 27 year-old man.

Out of the 1,280 new cases, Dr Fong said 348 of them were recorded on 6 January, 320 on 7 January and 612 new cases in the last 24 hours ending at 8am on 5 January.

Tropical Depression now intensified into a Cat 1 Tropical Cyclone

Fiji Meteorological Director, Terry Atalifo said TC Cody is moving towards the southwest of Kadavu.

Atalifo said the concern now is the associated rain bands which are expected to affect the Fiji group for the next few days.

“It’s expected to be slow-moving to the southwest of the Fiji group and then die further South in the coming days. We do not expect the TC to make any landfall in the Fiji group.”

Atalifo said the heavy rain warning remains in force for the group.

He added the flooding warning also remains in force.

     

Fiji announces new Covid-19 fines and penalties

This has been confirmed by the MInister of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya.

From today, failure to wear a mask or face-covering in the required setting will result in the spot fine of $250, businesses failing to maintain records or have QR codes available for a scan can be fined up to a thousand dollars.

Koya said the business and the official responsible will also get charged.

Failure to take temperature checks will incur a $250 fine for individuals and a $1, 000 fine will be imposed on business.

Local rivers burst as TD03F intensifies in Fiji

This has resulted to a lot of areas being flooded such as the entrance to nearby villages namely Lavusa, Vunayasi and Dratabu.

Parts of Nadi Town and the back road remain flooded.

Police officers have also been spotted in numbers to be patrolling the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 03F can intensify into a category one Tropical Cyclone today as it continues to move south-southwest at about 20km/hr.

     

Fiji records one death to Tropical Depression 03F

The incident happened at around 11am, today.

There are three evacuation centers – one in the North and two in the Western Division.

Currently 200 people are taking shelter at these centers and the NDMO expects this number to increase as more rain is in the forecast.

Fifteen roads are currently closed due to flooding, while 18 are restricted.

Tropical Depression 03F is expected to develop into a Cyclone in the next six to 12 hours.