The Fiji government has launched the latest leg of its vaccination rollout as the country struggles to contain the spread of Covid-19.
.. Photo: Fiji govt
Health authorities reported another 262 cases of the virus last night, taking the total number of covid-positive people in isolation to over 2,800.
Fiji's positivity rate continues to climb further up from 5 percent, which according to the World Health Organisation's criteria means the epidemic is not under control.
Despite this, the government continues to resist calls to opt for a full lockdown.
Instead it is prioritising efforts to vaccinate Fijians, with close to 300-thousand people, or around a third of the population, having received at least one dose of Astrazeneca.
Another 70,000 doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine sent by Australia arrived in Fiji at the weekend.
Fiji's government is urging the public on the main island Viti Levu to visit vaccination sites, but stressed people should adhere to all COVID-19 preventive measures.
Meanwhile, Fiji has received a donation of protective equipment from the European Union for use to counter Covid-19.
The EU's ambassador in Fiji, Sujiro Seam, said 250-thousand medical masks were donated to Fiji's Ministry of Health by Austria.
He said this would "help Fiji fight its second wave of Covid-19, and compliments the effort already deployed to provide for vaccines through the Covax facility for equitable access to vaccine, but also medical testing equipment in partnership with the World Health Organisation and the Pacific community."
Seam said the donation would also equip the most vulnerable communities in Fiji with free, reusable masks and hand sanitisers, through civil society organisations.