New COVID-19 cases from Labasa and additional cases on Malolo Island are being reported tonight as infections are now recorded in major divisions of the country.
Fiji has –in the 24-hour reporting period that ended at 8am today – reported 423 new cases of infections, with 328 in the Western Division, 92 cases in the Central Division and 3 cases in the Northern Division.
Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the three new cases in the North were detected in the Namara Tiri Settlement in Labasa.
“The index case is a freight vehicle driver who works at the Nabouwalu wharf and was tested as part of the routine surveillance program for those working within the Nabouwalu wharf operations,” Dr Fong said.
“He tested positive on August 24 and subsequently two household contacts have also turned positive. His previous negative swabs on July 14 and August 3, and August 12 were negative, suggesting recent exposure and infection.”
Dr Fong said six more individuals had tested positive for COVID-19 in Malolo.
He said there were now 23 active cases on Malolo Island.
He said a medical team from Lautoka had travelled to Malolo Island to assist the onsite medical team with the necessary response, including isolation of cases, contact tracing, and quarantine of contacts.
Dr Fong also announced nine COVID deaths reported from August 19-25, and included a 94-year-old elderly woman of Somosomo Village, on Naviti island, in the Yasawas.
HE said they were now investigating how this person became infected.
“… The ministry’s response team in the West are conducting contact tracing and testing of contacts to identify more cases on the island. More information will be provided to the public as investigations progress.”
Of the nine deaths, one was reported in the Central Division and the rest in the Western Division.
Dr Fong also noted 230 new recoveries reported since yesterday; and means there are now 19,280 active cases – 9568 active cases in the Central Division, 9573 active cases in the Western Division, 4 active cases in the Northern Division (Nabouwalu and Macuata) and 135 active cases in the Eastern Division (all in Kadavu).
There have been 45,098 cases recorded in Fiji during the outbreak that started in April 2021; and a total of 45,168 cases recorded since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 25,138 recoveries.
