Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services says it has noted a drop in cases reported daily recently.
Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the seven-day average of new cases per day is 730 cases per day, or 825 cases per million population per day.
This figure fluctuated at least over the past week, with numbers recorded in four-digits at the height of soaring COVID infections reported largely in the Central Division, and spiking numbers in the West.
At least, a week ago, Dr Fong reported the following seven-day average of new COVID cases per day:
- Tuesday, August 3 – 1220 new cases reported in 24 hours; Seven-day average of new cases per day – 1085 cases per day or 1226 cases per million population per day
- Wednesday, August 4 – 1187 new cases reported in 24 hours; Seven-day average of new cases per day – 1103 cases per day or 1247 cases per million population per day
- Thursday, August 5 – 968 new cases in 24-hour reporting period; Seven-day average of new cases per day – 1156 cases per day or 1193 cases per million population per day
- Friday, August 6 – 752 new cases in 24-hour period; Seven-day average of 997 cases per day or 1127 cases per million population per day;
- Saturday, August 7 – 682 new cases in 24-hour period; Seven-day average of new cases per day – 934, or 1056 cases per million population per day
- Sunday, August 8 – 657 new cases in 24-hour period; Seven-day average of new cases per day is 938 cases per day or 1060 cases per million population per day
- Monday, August 9 – 603 new cases in 24-hour period; Seven-day average of new cases per day is 867 cases per day or 980 cases per million population per day.
Dr Fong said while they had noted a drop in recent cases reported per day, their daily testing numbers had also been dropping around the same time.
He attributed this to the change in testing policy in the Suva-Nausori containment area.
He said as announced on July 21, only persons that have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 were being targeted for testing in Suva-Nausori.
“This was done so that resources could be targeted to early detection, monitoring and care of persons with COVID-19 who are at higher risk of severe disease, to prevent more people succumbing to severe disease and death,” Dr Fong said last night as he provided an epidemic outlook of the pandemic in the country.
“We are likely seeing the effect of this testing policy change now in Suva-Nausori with the drop in daily reported cases.
“This does not mean that the outbreak is on a downward trend in the Suva-Nausori community.”
Dr Fong said daily case numbers in Suva-Nausori were not being used as an indicator at present to monitor the progress of the outbreak in Suva-Nausori.
“The Ministry is closely monitoring other indicators such as test positivity, hospitalisations and deaths to track the progress of the outbreak in Suva-Nausori.
“Test positivity in Suva-Nausori was between 40-50 per cent before the change in testing policy and has remained at this high level, which is above the national average. This is one indicator of the continuing high level of community transmission in this area.”
The PS said testing levels in the Western Division remained consistently high with 3.8-4 tests per 1000 population per day at a 7-day average.
“We are seeing increasing cases reported in the Western Division with evidence of widespread community transmission in that division.
“We are also recording increasing numbers of people with severe disease and deaths in the West.”
The Northern and Eastern divisions currently have no active cases.
