Fiji

The Government also confirmed eight of the latest cases were recorded in the 24 hours to 8am Thursday.

There are no deaths to report and the toll remains at 694.

Health Secretary James Fong said 17 Covid patients are in hospital, eight in the central division and nine in the west.

"We have recorded 596 Covid-19 positive patients who died from serious medical conditions they had before they contracted Covid. These are not classified as Covid-19 deaths."

This brings the total number of active cases to 821 since this outbreak began in April this year.

There were no deaths reported in the latest update on Monday with the toll still at 679 since March 2020, 677 of them from April.

Fiji's Health Ministry says a total of 52,326 cases were recorded, with 71 percent from the Central Division, 28 percent from the west and 1 percent of the cases from the eastern and northern divisions.

Fiji's daily average is 17 cases.

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Seven of the total were recorded on Saturday, five on Sunday and 20 in the last 24 hours ending at 8am yesterday.

Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said the Ministry of Health recorded an additional 14 Covid-19 deaths between August 6th and September 19th, 2021.

All deaths were reported in the Western Division and no of the cases were vaccinated.

An analysis of the 14 deaths shows the individuals were aged between 46 to 84-years.

A team from the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Team began dispatching the vaccine around Viti Levu yesterday in order for all vaccination centres to be ready for launch today.

Minister for Health Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete while receiving the Pfizer vaccine from the New Zealand High Commission reiterated the need for children to get vaccinated.

Permanent Secretary Doctor James Fong said this will also protect children who have not yet been vaccinated and are below that eligible age group.

With Fiji leading 13-7, wing Eroni Sau was sent off for a reckless swinging arm on Johnny Williams in the 25th minute.

The visitors also picked up two yellow cards.

Hooker Ryan Elias scored twice with Kieran Hardy, Alex Cuthbert, Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams also scoring as Wales finished strongly.

Wales host Australia next Saturday to end their autumn series, having lost to New Zealand and South Africa before overcoming Fiji.

Samoa's National Sevens Series kicked off this morning at Marist St Joseph's Stadium in Lotopa.

There are 24 men's teams and four women's teams competing.

The men will each play two games today, with the eight pool winners advancing to the Cup quarter-finals.

The women's teams will join the competition tomorrow and play three games each in a round-robin format, before the men's semis and finals.

Meanwhile, the fourth leg of Fiji's Super Sevens Series has kicked off in Suva.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said this will involve a three- day stay in a hotel with a test to be done on day two.

A negative result will allow for discharge into the community on day three.

Dr Fong also said  incoming travel from today will be restricted to diplomats, returning residents, permit holders, and those approved by the Covid 19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce.

The Border Risk Reduction Protocol Processes will be trialed during this time and further refined in preparation for the 1st of December.

From today, only fully vaccinated diplomats, returning Fijian residents, permit holders and those approved by the Covid-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce will be allowed in.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said fully vaccinated tourists from travel partners including New Zealand, Australia, the UK and the United States can enter Fiji from 1 December.

Case numbers have soared and Germany on Wednesday registered its highest rate of infection since the pandemic began, with almost 40,000 cases in a day.

"We have to act right now," said Christian Drosten, who described a real emergency situation.

Doctors in the intensive care Covid ward at Leipzig University Hospital warn this fourth wave could be the worst yet.

One patient here, a woman in her 20s, has just given birth. Her baby is fine, but staff say they don't know whether she'll survive.

The Aotearoa government said they are proud to share the vaccines with Fiji to help protect 12-14 year olds against Covid-19.

The vaccines will be rolled out as early as next week.

New Zealand continues to work with Fiji as it builds resilience against the pandemic.

The Ministry of Health had earlier stated that they are training 200 staff in order to rollout Pfizer vaccines for children.

The Ministry hopes to start the vaccination campaign to support the safe reopening of schools.