By RNZ.co.nz. Republished with permission
The ignorance and blatant refusal to acknowledge science and facts on Covid-19 is the reason for the spike in cases in Fiji, the founder and director of a civil society organisation in the country said.
Sulique Waqa, of the Haus of Khameleon, believes the reluctance of Fijians to ‘admit mistakes or accept the scientific findings’ that have proven to save lives ‘need to be addressed holistically by the populace’.
Waqa said majority of the Fijian people were ‘deeply unwilling to change their minds’ about the pandemic including vaccination.
“It’s playing out during the pandemic among the many people in Fiji who refuse to be vaccinated, wear masks or practise social distancing.
“And when the facts clash with their pre-existing convictions they are jeopardising not only their health and well-being, but the lives of others as well.
“We should accept new information or admit to being wrong regarding the misconceptions surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine.”
Waqa said it has been endorsed by the World Health Organization that the vaccines can save lives against the coronavirus outbreak.
“We are experiencing a national health emergency that is severely straining our health system, putting our front-line health workers at risk and crippling the economy.
“No doubt, there will be more deaths within the coming weeks and months unless Fijians get vaccinated with both doses.
“They should refrain from opting for herbal remedies like vevedu or choosing religious interventions.”
Waqa said the Covid-19 vaccine was not ‘bullet-proof’ against a killer virus.
But the vaccine offered 92 percent protection against getting seriously ill, hospitalisation or death by Covid-19, Waqa said.
128 new cases, 12 more deaths reported
The Government confirmed 128 new cases of Covid-19 Monday night – six of them from the outer islands.
Twelve more people have died, bringing the death toll to 520.
Health Secretary James Fong said a 28-year-old woman was the youngest among the latest fatalities.
She presented to the Lautoka Hospital in severe respiratory distress on 27 August. She died eight days later.
The oldest victim was a 93-year-old man who died at home.
Dr Fong said there were 19 other deaths of Covid-positive patients.
“However, these deaths have been classified as non-Covid deaths by their doctors. The doctors have determined that these deaths were caused by a serious pre-existing medical condition and not Covid-19.
“Please note that due to the time required by clinical teams to investigate, classify and report deaths, a 4-day interval is given to calculate the 7-day rolling average of deaths, based on the date of death, to help ensure the data collected is complete before the average is reported.
“As of 1 September, the national 7-day rolling average of Covid-19 deaths per day is 4. The 7-day rolling average of deaths per day in the Central Division is 1 and in the Western Division is 3.”
Dr Fong said a total of 338 positive patients had died from the serious medical conditions that they had before they contracted Covid-19, these are not classified as Covid deaths.
There are 195 patients in hospital – 82 are admitted at the Lautoka Hospital, 14 at the FEMAT field hospital, and 99 are at the Colonial War Memorial, St Giles and Makoi hospitals.
Dr Fong said 24 patients are in severe condition, with six critical.
Fiji has 14,404 active cases in isolation with 1687 patients recovered.
