COVID-19 cases

Fiji has reported 591 new cases of COVID-19 for the 24 hours to 8am on Monday.

The Government also confirmed six deaths, taking the toll to 444 - 442 of them from this latest outbreak that began in April.

That compares with 303 cases and five deaths in the previous 24-hour period.

Of the latest cases, 498 were recorded in the Western Division, 89 in the Central Division and four cases on remote Kadavu in the east.

Fiji now has 19,062 active cases in isolation.

Health Secretary Dr James Fong said the four new cases on Kadavu were from Namalata Village.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said there were now 31 cases associated with the current Auckland community outbreak.

"All cases have or are being transferred safely to a managed isolation facility, under strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the use of full PPE."

The ministry said the three in Wellington had recently travelled to Auckland and visited a location of interest there.

The 63 year-old woman from Rakiraki Village in Yale, Kadavu, was declared dead on arrival at the Vunisea Hospital on Tuesday.

If her death is found to have been caused by COVID, this will be the Eastern Division's first case of the virus.

The woman's death comes amid 781 new cases of the Delta variant reported in the 24 hours to 8am yesterday.

The government also confirmed eight more deaths, taking the toll to 421.

That compares with 653 cases and eight deaths in the previous 24-hour period.

There are 10 cases in the community and almost 70 locations of interest in Auckland and Coromandel.

Shopping malls, bars and cinemas across Auckland have been added to the Ministry of Health list of locations of interest meaning potentially thousands of people are now considered contacts.

Last night, malls in Albany and New Lynn, and supermarkets in different parts of Auckland were added.

So far, the earliest potential exposure site dates back two weeks to 3 August.

The government also confirmed seven more deaths, taking the toll to 290.

Health secretary Dr James Fong said the patients had died between July 10th and August 5.

All but one of them were not vaccinated.

There are currently 16,061 active cases.

During the 24-hours to 8am yesterday, 468 people were tested positive for COVID-19.

That compares to 918 infections and 15 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. 

 The age range for the 11 people that died are between 40 and 84.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said seven other COVID-19 positive patients had died, however their deaths were not caused by the virus but due to serious pre-existing medical conditions.

Dr Fong said one death is being investigated.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced this in his nationwide address this week.

Mr. Sogavare says the students were among the 850 students who are currently in Fiji.

He says the COVID-19 situation in Fiji is worrying as 22 local students have been infected by the virus.

“Approximately 850 students, both government and privately sponsored students in all the training institutions in Fiji. Over 50 of these have graduated and can return home, the rest will remain.

That compares to 784 cases and 15 deaths in the previous 24-hour period.

The government also confirmed 12 more deaths between 13 and 19 July, taking the death toll to 125 with 123 of these from the latest outbreak that began in April.

Health Secretary James Fong said seven of the 12 victims had died at home, with one patient receiving one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The rest were unvaccinated.

There are now nearly 15,000 active cases in isolation.

The iPhone-maker had intended to bring workers in for three days a week from September but this had now been put back until at least October, the news agency said.

Sources told Bloomberg employees would be given at least a month's notice before having to return.

BBC News has asked Apple for comment.

Apple's plans for a return to the office had been met with firm opposition from some staff.

In June, chief executive Tim Cook sent a company-wide memo telling workers they would have to return to their desks.

The new cases were among the 1043 infections confirmed by the ministry on Sunday.

Over 14-thousand positive people are in isolation in the western and central divisions.

Health Secretary James Fong said the five patients are being isolated at the Levuka Hospital.

He said three of them were recorded on Ovalau while the other two on Gau.

He said the ministry is working with the Lomaiviti Provincial Council to monitor the situation on both islands.