Bula vinaka.
The permanent secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong has just announced 91 new cases since yesterday’s daily update.
Please note this is for new case notifications received between 6pm yesterday and 8am today.
Dr Fong said 49 of the new cases reported have been confirmed in the following existing clusters:
Waila – 1; Rewa EOC – 5; Vunivivi – 1; Nasinu Police Barracks – 2; Korovou – 4; Navosai – 13; CWMH – 17; Tramline, Nadi – 4; Grantham Road – 1; and Town House hotel – 1.
He said 36 cases have been identified as primary contacts of earlier cases, and response teams are determining the cluster link.
This includes cases from Veisari in Lami (3) and Delainavesi, Lami (5).
Dr Fong said the remaining six cases from the following areas are under investigation to determine whether they have links to other cases:
Vusuya, Rewa (1), Namuka-i-Lau, Lami (1), Lami Village (1), Waikerekere, Lami (1), Raiwaqa (2).
He confirmed a 76-year-old male admitted at the CWM Hospital has died. He had a severe pre-existing medical condition, and his cause of death has been assessed by his doctors to be due to COVID-19.
This, Dr Fong said, is the fourth death due to COVID-19 during this current outbreak.
Here are some stats for you:
- 64 COVID-19 cases have recovered;
- 1068 active cases now in isolation;
- 1463 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021;
- 1533 total cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March, 2020;
- 452 recoveries and six deaths in total due to COVID-19;
- Seven COVID-19 positive patients have died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses.
Again, we urge you to adhere to strict COVID-safety rules. Stay home! But if you must move out in public, wear a mask.
Here are some stories that made the headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Friday, June 18.
PAGE 1
The big ones on the front page are:
Fashion designers join fight
FASHION designers and influential figures have joined the fight to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by raising funds to help affected families.
Schools remain closed
ALL schools will remain closed until further notice. A statement from the Department of Information stated the Ministry of Education would continue to make available supplementary learning resources to keep children engaged in their learning environment.
To be jabbed or not
DEBATE on an individual’s right to choose whether or not to get the jab has put the spotlight on the subject of vaccination and the law.
PAGE 3
Choice to be vaccinated
WELL-KNOWN Suva employment lawyer Jon Apted says under the 2013 Constitution, no person can be vaccinated against their will without a court order.
Mandatory vaccination
MANDATORY vaccination can be put into a new job description or contract if needed to ensure a particular job can be done safely, says Suva employment lawyer Jon Apted.
Employers and employees
EMPLOYERS must always try to accommodate an employee’s wish not to be vaccinated, as long as the worker does not pose any risk to anyone in the work premises.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
There are interesting letters on Pages 8 and 9.
PEOPLE
In this ever-popular section of the newspaper, you can read about: Lesson in life
SHE got married when she was only 16 years old and after all these years, the now 49-year-old says she didn’t see it as a disadvantage but a lesson of life.
THE SHOPPER
This section is much more than just about shopping. Check it out.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about: Best selection for Tokyo
SELECTING the best 13 for the defence of the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games is the toughest decision facing Fiji 7s head coach Gareth Baber with not only the dreams and hopes of the players but also the nation and fans around the globe on the line.
There’s more to read inside, but you’ll have to get a copy to know what we are talking about!
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e-EDITION
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