PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH DR JAMES FONG'S UPDATE ON COVID-19

Bula Vinaka. This evening I wish to discuss with you how we are now seeing important shifts in the COVID-19 situation in Fiji. Today we have 205 new cases of COVID-19 to confirm. It is not the total number of cases, but the location of these cases that is of greatest concern. We are now managing outbreaks in multiple locations across Fiji, including in some remote areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. Outer Islands ResponseAs you are no doubt aware, the virus has now spread out of Viti Levu to Kadavu, Malolo island, and Naviti island in the Yasawa group. We have confirmed 29 new cases on Kadavu adding to a total of 164 active cases reported on the island. There remain 23 active cases reported in Malolo Island with investigations and further testing of contacts continuing. We have dispatched a 55-member response team to Kadavu this week to assist with containment efforts on the island and offer treatment for those who develop severe disease. In response to the situation in Malolo Island, we have deployed a public health team to rapidly map out a plan to contain the virus and also identify community members who are most at risk of severe disease. To ensure we are allocating our health resources best, all operations in Vunibaka are to stop immediately. For Somosomo Village in Naviti, we expect the impact to be more severe. Over the weekend we will be deploying a team to Naviti to develop a plan to increase our capacity to provide critical care to patients, as well as put in place protective measures for those most vulnerable. Unfortunately, our investigations and deployment to Kadavu, Malolo and Naviti have been delayed due to bad weather conditions, however over the coming days we hope to see quick measures being placed in these new areas of concern.