Fiji

There are several new clusters confirmed with cases emerging in Naitasiri 35km outside  of Suva and from various localities outside of the Suva Nausori containment zones.

Two cases are from Matainasau Village in Naitasiri, one of whom was recently discharged from the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and one case had moved to Tavua Village by the time the results were known.

There is one each case from Laselevu, Savusavu settlement and Vuisiga Village in Vunidawa, Naitasiri.

The assurance comes amid an escalating number of cases on the main island, Viti Levu, with clusters in both hospitals and the Navy.

Health secretary James Fong said the frontline public health response teams were conducting surveillance and containment efforts in the communities.

The ministry screened and tested its frontline personnel for their safety and the public's safety because "they come into contact with persons who have been exposed to the virus", Fong said.

As a result the ministry has stood-down all personnel operating from the third floor of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Headquarters in Suva.

Among the staff who are now working from home are Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong, Head of Health Protection, Dr Aalisha Sahukhan, and Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Jemesa Tudravu.

They have been identified as secondary contacts of the three cases.

The ministry said the primary contacts have been identified and safely quarantined.

All the new cases are from existing clusters including seven from the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua, three from the CWM Hospital in Suva and three from the Nawaka, Nadi cluster.

Fourteen patients have recovered, which means there are now 323 active cases. There have been 438 cases since this outbreak started in April 2021.

Fiji has had 508 cases in total since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 181 recoveries and 4 deaths.

The Permanent Secretary for Health James Fong said Fijians have become too "complacent and wishful thinking" in their response to the second wave of the virus.

He said positive samples sent to a Melbourne laboratory had confirmed that the Indian variant of the virus is circulating in Fiji.

The Indian variant was first detected in India last October and has since spread to more than 40 other countries.

After the discovery of the new cases, parts of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva and the Nadi Hospital are now on lockdown.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong, said five cases are from the Navosai Narere cluster outside Suva , one from Waila in Nausori, one from Nawaka in Nadi and two are from the CWM hospital.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong confirmed 23 new cases were reported yesterday morning and another 9 were reported last night.

The 9 new cases are all linked to existing clusters.

Another 4 cases are from Nawaka in Nadi while 5 are from Muanikoso in Nasinu.

There are now 267 active cases with 252 of these cases from the Lami-Suva-Nausori containment zone, and 15 cases from Nadi.

2 of the active cases in Suva are considered to be severe cases and are admitted in the ICU in hospital.

Fiji has had 360 cases in total since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 161 recoveries and four deaths.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said two patients were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.

"Today has not been an easy day, nor do I expect that the days ahead will get any better. Many of you have questions. I hope to answer some now and I am assured that a press conference will be organised soon to answer more questions," Dr Fong said.

The highest number of active cases of 151 are now located within Suva and Nausori and all of them are in isolation.

Six new cases was reported last evening after 22 cases were announced earlier in the day.

According to Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong, of the six cases,  four are primary contacts within the Muanikoso cluster about 8km out of Suva  and 2 are from the Vunivivi cluster in Nausori.

14 of the new cases were announced last evening and another 13 were reported earlier in the day.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said one of the cases is a day patient at the CWM Hospital in Suva.

The largest number of cases is from the Fiji Navy with 22 personnel testing COVID positive.

Fiji now has 127 active cases in isolation, eight  patients have recovered.

Fiji has had 286 cases in total, with 155 recoveries and 4 deaths, since the first case was reported on 19 March 2020.