There is no need to panic about the slight increase in COVID-19 cases recorded in recent weeks.

This was the assurance made by Ministry of Health and Medical Services Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong yesterday.

The ministry had recorded 57 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday since the last update last weekend.

However, Dr Fong said the booster dose intake for eligible individuals must escalate to ensure that Fiji achieves a safe equilibrium in the endemic phase.

“At the moment what I am anticipating is that at some point in time the number of cases will go up without any impact on hospital admissions,” he said.

“To achieve that equilibrium in an endemic phase we do need that booster dose to escalate.

“We must get to that safe equilibrium within an endemic phase, that’s where we are aiming for.

“Right now we are up to 30 per cent of the population that are qualified for the booster dose covered.

“I am hoping that over the next few weeks we will escalate more of our booster coverage.”

He said the ministry would be creating more awareness on the booster dose intake in the coming weeks to ensure that the uptake is lifted.

“I see that our cases are creeping up but I really believe that we should not panic,” he said.

“All we need to do is focus on getting the booster dose up, getting everyone protected and we will just break the connection between case and admissions.

“If we can break the connection between case and severe disease then we are achieving a safe level of endemic disease.”

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