Community transmission cases are now throughout the Central Division.

This was announced by Permanent Secretary for health and Medical Services Dr James Fong.

Cases

274 new cases of COVID-19 and 74 new recoveries were announced yesterday.

There are now 3503 active cases in the country.

New mitigation phase

Now, only those who are considered severe cases will be placed  in isolation facilities.

All others will be asked to isolate at home.

Dr Fong said: “Moving forward, our isolation facilities will be dedicated for patients who are most at risk of becoming severely ill or dying from the virus.

“By placing our most vulnerable in these facilities we will be able to ensure that we provide them critical treatment and closely monitor and respond if a person shows danger signs of severe COVID-19. Other patients will be asked to safely isolate themselves at home where they will be provided the guidance and resources to receive home-based care.”

For those individuals in home isolation, the Minsitry will have a list of patient names paired with contact information so that they can check-in with these individuals on a daily basis over the phone to assess their medical and non-medical needs.

As has been the case, they will continue to be provided with groceries and other household essentials so they can securely remain isolated within their homes.

They will be told to monitor their symptoms regularly and if they develop any danger signs, will be referred immediately to the nearest hospital or health facility for treatment.

If they aren’t able to transport themselves, we also have a new number –– number 165 –– which they can call for an emergency retrieval team to be dispatched to transport them to a COVID-care centre. This team is based out of the ANZ Arena and they will also be charged with transporting patients with severe symptoms from isolation facilities to COVID-care centres.

Health officials move

This phase of the response requires that the Ministry move personnel from the field into Ministry offices so that they can check-in with patients remotely, he said.

“It saves time by allowing us to check-in regularly with more patients so that there are fewer delays in flagging a case of severe disease,” Dr Fong said.

“We’ve also supplemented our internal staffing with final year medical and dental students from FNU –– and we’re grateful to these young people for stepping up to serve Fiji.”

The Ministry is also establishing an intermediate COVID-care facility at the National Gymnasium with at least 50 beds available for patients who develop severe symptoms of the virus.

“If need be, we have identified additional space in the area to expand the capacity of that centre if necessary.

“We are also asking that people experiencing symptoms report to screening clinics –– it is the fastest way for us to swab you, assess you, and enter you into insolation if necessary.”

New area of concern

This has been identified in Rifle Range, Lautoka following a cluster of new cases stemming from a birthday party with upwards of 14 people in attendance from various locations in Lautoka.

“Not only does this event show a blatant disregard for our COVID-19 safety measures, it also troubles me that families would recklessly threaten the health of their own family members and the broader community, especially those members of the family and community who are most vulnerable.”

Pause on Vanua Levu

domestic repatriation

COVID-safe pathways were earlier announced for repatriation for Fijians on Viti Levu seeking to return to Vanua Levu and maritime areas.

“We have some individuals in quarantine awaiting transport to their homes once they are cleared. However, we are pausing new applications to the repatriation programme until we have more quarantine spaces available. In the near-term, we need to keep those rooms open for COVID-positive patients as part of our containment programme on Viti Levu.”

Meanwhile, Dr Fong is back in quarantine, after he was once again identified as a primary contact of a COVID-19 patient.

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