Bula vinaka everyone.
Here is another edition of some basic information you may need to know for today.
First, here is your weather forecast for today:
Weather
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Judy Category 3 lies to the far south of Fiji.
- The associated rain bands and strong winds continues to affect the country.
- Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Kevin Category 3 lies to the far west of Fiji and is gradually moving southeast and expected to track to the south of the group.
- The associated active trough of low pressure with cloud and rain is expected to affect the group from tomorrow.
- Forecast to midnight tomorrow for the Fiji group: For land areas of Yasawa and Mamanuca groups, northwestern Viti Levu [Rakiraki-Tavua-Ba-Lautoka-Nadi], Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Lau and Lomaiviti groups, Bua and eastern Macuata [Labasa to Udu Point]: Expect northwesterly winds with average speeds of 45km/hr to 55km/hr and gusts upto 80km/hr.
- For the rest of Fiji: Moderate to fresh northeasterly winds, gusty at times.
- Rough to very rough seas.
COVID-19 daily press briefing
- The Permanent Secretary of Health and Medical Services will issue updated statements – this can be accessed via the Fijian Government FB page.
COVID-19 vaccination
- Stay alert and monitor radio announcements and check the Government’s Facebook page to get the updated schedule of the mobile vaccination teams in your communities.
General information
- Monthly Social Run by Suva Marathon 6am at Apted Park
EFL Planned Power Shutdown
- Korolevu – 6.30am to 6.30pm
- Moala Street, Samabula – 2.30pm to 6pm
Editor’s movie picks:
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 10:20am, 6:25pm at Life Cinema Lautoka; 12.40pm, 6.35pm at Life Cinema Nadi; 10:40am, 3:50pm, 6:30pm pm at Life Cinema Nakasi; 11:20am, 6:25pm at life Cinema Labasa
- Creed III – 10.50am, 1pm, 3.50pm, 6.40pm, 9.30pm at Village 6, Suva
Current Affairs:
- Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports Rovereto Nayacalevu to officially open the Annual National Sporting Organization Conference 9am at Harbour Point Convention Centre, Lami
COVID-19
Health Ministry advice:
- People with severe COVID-19 are still dying at home, or are coming to a medical facility in the late stages of severe illness.
- Severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency, and a delay in receiving appropriate medical treatment reduces your chance of recovering from the disease. You are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 if you are over the age of 50 or have a non-communicable disease or chronic disease like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, or if you are obese or pregnant.
- If you are at high risk of severe disease and have any symptoms of COVID-19 such as a cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, body ache, headache, loss of taste/smell – please come to your nearest screening clinic to be checked and tested by our medical teams.
- The severe symptoms of COVID-19, include the following: – Difficulty breathing; – Persistent pain or pressure in the chest; – Severe headache for a few days; – New confusion, inability to wake or stay awake; – Pale, gray, or blue-coloured skin, lips or nail beds.
Source: MOHMS
On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named Omicron, on the advice of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE). This decision was based on the evidence presented to the TAG-VE that Omicron has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves, for example, on how easily it spreads or the severity of illness it causes. Here is a summary of what is currently known.
Current knowledge about Omicron
Researchers in South Africa and around the world are conducting studies to better understand many aspects of Omicron and will continue to share the findings of these studies as they become available.
Transmissibility: It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible (e.g., more easily spread from person to person) compared to other variants, including Delta. The number of people testing positive has risen in areas of South Africa affected by this variant, but epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it is because of Omicron or other factors.
Severity of disease: It is not yet clear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to infections with other variants, including Delta. Preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, but this may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of specific infection with Omicron. There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants. Initial reported infections were among university students—younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease—but understanding the level of severity of the Omicron variant will take days to several weeks. All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant that is dominant worldwide, can cause severe disease or death, in particular for the most vulnerable people, and thus prevention is always key.
Source: WHO
