Fiji has reported 1301 new cases of Covid-19 for the 24 hours to 8am yesterday.
Fiji PM Frank Bainimarama visited the Covid-19 testing facility in Suva. Photo: Facebook / Fiji government
The government also confirmed nine more deaths, bringing the toll to 227.
That compares with 1057 cases and 12 deaths in the previous 24-hour period.
Health Secretary Dr James Fong said on Thursday night all of the victims were unvaccinated.
Dr Fong said the deaths were reported on the 26-27 July.
Fiji now has 20,200 active cases in isolation with the death toll at 227, 225 from the latest outbreak that began in April.
* An 83-year-old man from Lautoka presented to the hospital in respiratory distress on 24 July. He reported having a cough and shortness of breath for five days prior to his admission. His condition worsened at the hospital and he died three days after admission.
* A 72-year-old woman from Samabula in Suva died at home on 26 July.
* A 69-year-old man from Valelevu in Nasinu presented to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital emergency department in severe respiratory distress on 25 July. His condition worsened at the hospital and he died on the same day.
* A 64-year-old man from Suva died at home on 27 July.
* An 84-year-old man from Nabua also died at home on 27 July.
* A 59-year-old man from Nakasi, Nasinu, died at home on 27 July.
* A 91-year-old woman from Suva also died at home on 27 July.
* A 68-year-old woman from Wailoku died at home on 27 July.
* A 75-year-old man from Raiwaqa, Suva, died at home on 26 July.
Fifteen other people, who tested positive to Covid-19, had died however, Dr Fong said their deaths were not caused by the coronavirus but due to serious pre-existing medical conditions.
He said out of the latest 1301 cases, 293 cases were from the Western Division while the rest were from the Central Division.
Sanaka Samarasinha. Photo: Facebook/Sanaka Samarasinha
UN on decision to medevac staff
Meanwhile, a decision to evacuate a UN staff member from Fiji to New Zealand who is seriously ill with Covid-19 was not taken lightly, the head of the United Nations in the Pacific said.
New Zealand initially refused to let the patient in because of "capacity" issues, but has since done a u-turn.
Sanaka Samarasinha told Checkpoint yesterday the staff member could not get the care she needed in Fiji.
Dr Fong said the request was made by the UN and organised without the Fijian government's involvement.
There are 700 UN workers in Suva, Samarasinha said.
In a statement, NZ's Health Ministry said Auckland's medical officer of health had approved a transfer plan for the patient.
It said the ministry took into account the safety of the UN worker and the crew transporting her - with strong protocols in place during the medical evacuation.
Over 200 patients recover
1301 new positive cases
245 new recoveries reported since last update
20,200 active cases (17,774 active cases - Central Division; 2426 active cases - Western Division)
27,427 cases recorded during outbreak that started in April 2021
27,497 cases recorded in Fiji since first case was reported in March 2020, with 6951 recoveries
Nine deaths reported on July 26-27
15 deaths of positive patients (not caused by Covid)
227 deaths recorded due to Covid-19 in Fiji
225 of those deaths recorded during the outbreak that started in April this year
Seven-day rolling average deaths per day - eight
119 positive patients died from the serious medical conditions they had before they contracted Covid-19 (not classified as Covid-19 deaths).