Fiji

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. James Fong said this is indicating a better control of community transmission.

Fong added that they test for Covid-19 to strengthen the public health response and not to appease the public.

“It would be the height of stupidity for us to go and reduce the amount of testing to match the narrative of opening the border. We did not decide on the opening of the border based on that.”

Doctor Fong also said they can’t hold the whole country back because a small group of people are not vaccinated.

The cases have been recorded for the period of the past seven days accounting for one percent of the cumulative cases nationally.

The Central Division recorded 64 cases, 48 in the West and two in the Eastern Division within the same period.

The Ministry of Health said travel for short-term goals to the North is likely to be adversely affected if a person turns out positive while in quarantine.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes said they have been able to surpass their initial commitment for the AstraZeneca jabs.

“And we’re here today to announce that we’ve delivered almost 1.1 million vaccines in the six months. But it doesn’t end here as our support for Fiji will continue”

Fiji’s Minister of Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said the donation enabled Fiji to vaccinate more than 50 percent of the target population against COVID-19.

The Ministry hopes to start the vaccination campaign from 15th November to support the safe reopening of schools.

MOH’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said  Covid-19 poses a lower risk to children however secondary transmission from young school-aged children can and does occur.

Dr Fong added with the successful rollout of the Moderna vaccine for 15 to 17 years old, the Ministry is now focusing on the lower age group.

Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee CEO, Lorraine Mar confirmed the withdrawal to national sporting federations.

Mar said the association has had to withdraw during the height of the second wave of the pandemic, as it has continued to pose adverse effects in the country.

The students are back in the school premises after six and a half months.

Minister of Education, Premila Kumar said face to face learning is vital for the academic achievement, mental and physical health, and overall well-being of students.

She added this is an important term for students as they complete their 2021 syllabus and prepare for external examinations.

The Minister also said that good marks will qualify students for the Toppers Scheme, as well as student loans.

An Australian online media outlet said Australians were flooding hotel and airline sites for Fiji.

Fiji announced earlier this month it would be reopening its borders from December 1 to fully vaccinated Australians.

Other Australian island favourites such as Bali and Thailand are still to confirm when they might welcome tourists back.

The media outlet says it understands a number of hotels have had seen their booking records broken over the past week, with one resort recording AU$60,000 worth of bookings in a single day.

However, the Ministry of Health recorded 22 new cases of the virus.

MOH’s Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said 54.1 percent of the target population are considered fully vaccinated nationwide.

Dr. Fong added that the test positivity rate sits at four percent which is below the World Health Organization’s five percent threshold.

38 COVID cases are currently hospitalized.

Of these, two are considered severe cases while another is in critical condition.

Another 63 new cases have been recorded for 12 October.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said in the past seven days, 163 cases were recorded in the central division, 211 new cases in the western division, and 17 new cases in the eastern division.

Fong added that the central division cases constitute 71 percent of the cumulative total cases nationally, with the western division making up 27% and 2% in the northern and eastern divisions.

There are ten COVID-19 deaths reported for the period of 7 July to 12 October, 2021.

Fiji is expected to administer Pfizer vaccine to children aged between 12 and 14 years from next month.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said although vaccination is not compulsory, students are encouraged to get vaccinated to protect themselves.

The vaccine is being brought in from New Zealand and will be available from this month.

The Ministry of Health Ministry said all logistical procedures will be looked at before it is administered.