Two elderly men are the latest COVID-19-related deaths recorded this month by Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

The first is a 72-year-old from the Central Division who died at home on August 4 and he had only received one dose of the vaccine.

And the second a 63-year-old man who was admitted to the Lautoka hospital with multiple underlying medical conditions that had worsened his COVID state.

The man who had had three doses of the COVID vaccine died six days later on August 12.

Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong said they recorded 55 new cases – nine cases were recorded on August 19, 27 cases recorded on August 20, and 19 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours ending at 8am Monday.

Of the 55 cases recorded, 32 cases were recorded in the Central Division, 22 cases in the Western Division, and one case in the Northern Division.

He said the Central Division cases constituted 66 per cent of the cumulative total cases nationally, with the Western Division making up 28 per cent, 4 per cent in the Northern Division, and 2 per cent in the Eastern Division.