Fiji has recorded another 15 deaths from Covid-19 taking the toll to 360. The dead ranged in age from 49 to 85, most dying before they could receive any hospital treatment.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong Photo: Fiji govt
The health secretary James Fong reported there were a total of 644 new cases in the latest 24 hour reporting period to 8am on Friday morning.
It means Fiji has now had nearly 40,000 cases, about four percent of the population, since the first case in March 2020.
Another 192 deaths of Covid-19 positive patients have been attributed to other medical factors.
There are 291 Covid-19 patients in hospital in Fiji with 58 in severe condition, and nine critical.
Dr Fong said people are still dying at home or coming to a medical facility in the late stages of severe illness, which reduces the chances of recovery.
He also expressed concern at reports that residents in Pacific Harbour near the capital Suva were told to present their vaccination card before entering a supermarket.
Dr Fong said vaccination was not mandatory in public spaces, "but as I understand people can put conditions on those that want to access their space."
Kundan Singh Supermarket manager Lice Tinai said the decision to check vaccination cards was made to ensure the safety of staff and customers.
She said people had to show they were vaccinated and to protect their staff and customers.
She said the advice was publicised two weeks prior to it being implemented.
Tinai said both their shops in Pacific Harbour and Suva had implemented these safety protocols.
No Pfizer from Australia
Australia has said no plans to deliver the Pfizer vaccine to Fiji.
But the government would continue to send the AstraZeneca vaccine, Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Senator Zed Seselja, said.
He said the Pfizer vaccine was challenging but Australia would assist the Fijians with the AstraZeneca doses.
Canberra has committed one million doses of the vaccine, with a batch of 100,000 doses arriving in Fiji last week.
Australia has already given 760,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Fiji.