Bula to everyone
It was another fine and sunny day today in the Capital City of Suva, with the temperature gauge dropping to around 23 degrees Celsius this evening.
As we head into Sunday, we acknowledge all the frontliners who are out on duty tonight. It is a cool night.
47 new cases
The permanent secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong has tonight announced 47 new cases. Forty two of the new cases are linked to the following existing clusters: CWMH – 19; Nawaka, Nadi – 15; IMT – 3; Waila – 1; Muanikoso- 1; Navy – 1; and Reservoir Road – 2.
Dr Fong said cases from the following areas are under investigation to determine whether they have links to other cases: Wailoku (1); Wainibuka (1); Tacirua (1); and Davuilevu Housing (1). One case is noted to be a primary contact of an existing case and the contact tracing team are to confirm the cluster link.
He said a review of cases from Nadi reported this week has found that three cases tested positive twice, and were subsequently counted twice, due to errors with the identifying information that was entered for each test.
Therefore, the three duplicate records have been removed from the active and total case count.
Some quick stats for you:
- 26 patients have recovered;
- 702 active cases now in isolation;
- 944 cases during this outbreak that started in April, 2021;
- 1014 cases recorded in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020;
- 304 recoveries;
- Four deaths due to COVID-19;
- Four COVID-19 positive patients have died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses.
Here are some stories that made the headlines in the Sunday Times for June 13.
PAGE 1
Nawaka SOS call
The big one on the front page is about people at Nawaka calling out for assistance, and leaders of a number of political parties having a say.
PAGE 2
We have the numbers from tonight.
Lockdown not an option
Twenty-eight days lockdown is not an option for Government to fight the COVID-19 virus, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Heart-breaking experiences
Some of the most heart-breaking experiences of this COVID-19 outbreak have involved Fijians who could not get back to their homes, says Mr Bainimarama.
PAGE 3
Mothers and babies transfer
Some mothers and babies from the Colonial War Memorial Hospital’s Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit in Suva were transferred to the Lautoka Hospital because of escalating COVID-19 cases at the CWMH.
Health centre closed
All medical services at the Makoi Health Centre have been redirected to the Valelevu Health Centre.
Call to pull resources together
Political parties are calling on Government to pull resources together to ensure people in lockdown areas are assisted so incidences such as the one in Nawaka, where frustrated people took to the streets, are not repeated.
Government needs the support of parents and guardians to ensure their children are focusing on their education at home.
FNU courses for health professionals
Fiji National University College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences has courses available for health professionals who wish to gain further skills and knowledge in public health.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We have two pages of letters to the editor. There are some interesting views inside on Pages 6 and 7.
FEATURE/OPINION
As usual, we have some interesting reading for your weekend pleasure inside.
#BEHIND THE NEWS with JOHN KAMEA.
#DISCOVERING FIJI: BEFORE the arrival of Christian missionaries and their religion, traditional dances called meke were already been performed for centuries by indigenous Fijians as part of their social and religious activities. Meke were traditional performing art for men and women, embracing traditional singing, dancing and music.
FOOD with CHEF LANCE SEETO:
With the next round of government assistance in the hands of more than 200,000 Fijians, supermarkets have seen a run on groceries as people re-stock the house. Chicken is no doubt the most affordable but many butchers are also selling goat and lamb on the bone.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about: FIJI 7s head coach Gareth Baber has no fear and worry about the national team’s performance in the upcoming PacificAus Sports Oceania Sevens in Townsville, Australia despite the team not having any hit-out against opposition teams.
There’s more to read inside, but you’ll have to get a copy to know what we are talking about!
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e-EDITION
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