Fiji has recorded 1180 cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8am yesterday.
That compares to 1405 cases and six deaths the previous 24 hours.
.. Photo: Fiji govt
The government also confirmed five new deaths, taking the death toll to 85.
Health Secretary Dr James Fong said one of the patients had received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine while the rest were unvaccinated.
Dr Fong said a 47-year-old woman from Raiwaqa in Suva was presented to a medical facility on 14 July with severe Covid-19 symptoms, including shortness of breath.
Her condition worsened at the health facility and she died on the same day, he said.
"A 61-year-old man from Caubati in Nasinu presented to a health facility in severe respiratory distress on 15 July. His condition worsened at the health facility and he died on the same day.
"His family reported that he had been unwell with symptoms that included generalised body pains."
Dr Fong said the third death was a 67-year-old woman from Naiyala Village who presented to a health facility on 15 July in severe respiratory distress.
Her condition worsened at the health facility and she died on the same day, he said.
"Her family reported that she had been unwell with Covid symptoms four days prior to her death.
"The fourth death to report is a 61-year-old woman from Valelevu in Nasinu who presented to a medical facility in severe respiratory distress on 16 July. Her condition worsened in the health facility and she died on the same day.
"She received her first dose of the vaccine in early-June. She had not received second dose when she died."
Dr Fong said a 66-year-old woman from Lami had died at home on 13 July. Her family reported that she was feeling unwell with generalised muscular weakness and was noted to have a reduced appetite.
"We also have recorded 34 Covid-positive patients who died from serious medical conditions they had before they contracted the virus. These are not classified as Covid-19 deaths.
"There have been 159 new recoveries reported since the last update, which means that there are now 12,975 active cases. There have been 16,401 cases during the outbreak that started in April 2021. We have recorded a total of 16,471 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020, with 3377 recoveries."
Dr Fong said there were seven more deaths currently under investigation.
The Covid-19 Drive-Through Vaccination Centre in Suva. Photo: Facebook/Fiji govt
Screening and testing
A total of 6347 individuals were screened and 1954 swabbed at stationary screening clinics in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 318,919 individuals screened and 54,340 swabbed to date.
"Our mobile screening teams screened a total of 4430 individuals and swabbed 611 in the last 24 hours. This brings our cumulative total to 716,758 individuals screened and 61,466 swabbed by our mobile teams to date.
"A total of 220,959 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 263,820 tested since testing began in March 2020. 3409 tests have been reported for July 15.
"Testing number data for one laboratory is still pending for July 15. Based on available testing numbers, the national 7-day daily test average is 3876 tests per day or 4.4 tests per 1000 population."
Fiji's national seven-day average daily test positivity is 21.7 percent and continues on an upward trend, Dr Fong said.
As of the 16 July, 391,363 adults in Fiji have received their first dose of the vaccine and 77,610 have received their second doses.
"This means that 66.7 percent of the target population have received at least one dose and 13.2 percent are now fully vaccinated nation-wide.
"Fijians can check the ministry's vaccine dashboard to find real-time data on first-dose and second-dose numbers at the national, divisional and sub-divisional levels."
The seven-day average of new cases per day is 921 cases or 1040 cases per million population per day. Average daily case numbers are increasing, together with cases of severe disease and deaths.
Fiji now has 12,975 positive people in isolation since this outbreak started in April.
Police on patrol as they enforce face mask protocols in Fiji's capital Suva, amid a worsening outbreak of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in the Pacific nation. Photo: AFP or licensors
Public health notices
Meanwhile, failure to wear a mask topped the list of infringement notices that were issued in the last 24 hours.
According to police, 37 Public Health Infringement Notices (PHIN) were issued overnight with 25 of them for failure to wear a mask.
Police recorded 16 notices in the Southern Division, eight in the Central Division and one case in the Western Division.
"Eleven Public Health Infringement Notices were issued for social gathering," a police statement read.
"Seven in the Central Division and four in the West.
"One PHIN was issued for breach of curfew in the Southern Division.
"Failure to wear a mask in a public place continues to top the number of PHINs issued on a daily basis.
"Those who have been served PHINs for failure to wear a mask either have a mask in their possession and are not wearing it or fail to wear it in the proper manner."
Police are urging Fijians to understand that these measures have been put in place for the public's well-being and to protect them from the virus.
"Compliance will help protect you and your families."