COVID-19: New cases total 568; 13 deaths reported

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Image: FIJI TIMES ONLINE

Fiji has reported 568 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24-hour period that ended at 8am today.

Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong said 262 cases were in the Western Division and 306 cases in the Central Division.

He also reported 13 COVID deaths bringing the country’s total COVID deaths to 340 since March 2020.

“Three of these people whose deaths were caused by COVID-19  had received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before they died,” Dr Fong said.

“However, we know from the timeline of when their symptoms first developed that two of these individuals were infected with the virus before they got the second dose of the vaccine.

“We must understand that there is a difference between cure and prevention. The vaccine is not a cure for COVID-19, which means it will not help if you get vaccinated when you are already infected and sick with the virus.

“The vaccine helps to prevent you from getting COVID-19 and dying from it. Two doses of the vaccine help to lower your risk of getting infected with the virus and greatly reduces your risk of severe disease and death.”

Dr Fong said the third patient got sick with COVID-19 and died within two weeks of the second dose.

He said one must have two doses of the vaccine and wait at least two weeks after the second dose to be considered fully vaccinated.

“This is because your immune system needs at least two weeks to react to the vaccine and form a protective response. So, to be considered fully vaccinated, you need to receive both doses and wait two weeks after the second dose for the full protection to take effect.”

Dr Fong said no one in Fiji had died from COVID-19 after they had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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