Coronavirus

The Ministry of Health confirmed that two of the victims were unvaccinated while the third had received one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Three more people, who tested positive to the virus, died but their deaths have been classified as non-COVID-19 related and caused by serious pre-existing medical conditions, instead.

Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong said a 61-year-old man from Qauia Village in Lami near the capital Suva was brought to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital's emergency department in severe respiratory distress.

The death toll in a day has also risen to six.

The youngest deceased is a 43-year old woman and the others are aged between 60 and 80.

According to the Ministry of Health, three people were not vaccinated and the remaining three had received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

There have now been 39 deaths due to COVID-19 in Fiji, with 37 of these deaths during the outbreak that started in April this year.

She had been due to spend the day with the Duke of Cambridge to mark the 73rd anniversary of the NHS.

But Prince William arrived alone for a service at St Paul's Cathedral and a Buckingham Palace tea for NHS staff.

Kensington Palace said she does not have any symptoms, but is "following all relevant government guidelines".

It said in a statement: "Last week the Duchess of Cambridge came into contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

That was the message that community leaders heard at last week's meeting of the Pacific Leadership Forum in Auckland.

“It came through loud and clear that our people are feeling the impact of losing jobs and reduced hours at work," says Forum Chairman, Teleiai Edwin Puni.

“There is a huge social concern in the community.”

It was the first time in 15 months that the Forum's 36 community representatives were able to gather and discuss issues that affect Pacific people. ​

Among the other topics that came up were the Dawn Raids apology. 

Fiji’s Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said the first COVID-19 death is a 54-year-old man from Naikurukuru, Lami.

He was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the CWM Hospital Emergency Department.

His family reported that the individual had been unwell for at least a week with fever, headache and generalized weakness.

He was not vaccinated.

Dr Fong said the second COVID-19 death was a 62-year-old woman from Davuilevu who died at home.

Twenty-four of those were in isolation for their infectious period.

Seven were in the community while infectious.

Berejiklian said she was pleased that the majority of today's cases had been in isolation, but household contacts remained a concern.

"I can say that the lockdown certainly has been effective in not doubling and tripling the figures that we were worried about," she said.

"Thirty-three cases are linked to a known case or cluster and 20 of these are household contacts. Again, highlighting the risk within households."

Suga’s announcement came as leaders of Japan and Pacific island nations and territories held an online meeting Friday, with Tokyo aiming to promote its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy” in an apparent effort to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

In the virtual meeting, Japan also pledged assistance to help Pacific countries recover from the coronavirus pandemic by strengthening health care and medical systems, providing economic relief, and improving infrastructure facilities among other measures, according to government officials.

The first death is a 93-year-old woman from Matata, Valenicina Lami.

The woman died at home and according to protocol was swabbed and tested positive for COVID-19. She was not vaccinated.

Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said the two other deaths were previously reported as under investigation to determine if the cause of death was COVID-19.

Dr Fong added that doctors have now concluded that their deaths were caused by COVID-19.

Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong said five of the new cases are contacts of cases who are undergoing 14 days of quarantine in facilities in Nadi, adding that the rest of the cases are from the Suva-Nausori containment zone.

Dr Fong said the first death from COVID-19 is a 66-year-old woman from Valelevu who was declared dead on arrival by doctors at the emergency department at CWM Hospital.

He further clarified that this means the woman died at home or on the way to hospital.

Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary Doctor James Fong said the new cases are mainly from the Central and Western Divisions.

There are two cases that have been identified at the Malau Quarantine Facility in Labasa.

Doctor Fong said these two cases are noted to be repatriates from the Central Division and are in quarantine.

The Ministry of Health said there have also been five deaths of COVID-19 positive patients since the last update.