Covid

Spotlight on Fiji Fiji is refusing to implement a hard lockdown, while vaccine hesitancy is creating increased risk throughout the Pacific, Hugh McClure writes. This fortnight, this update takes a deeper dive into the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation in Fiji. 2,626 cases were recorded in Fiji in the 14 days to 28 June, as Viti Levu…

Papua New Guinea’s Health Minister declared that COVID-19 is “under control” despite case numbers continuing to climb, Hugh McClure writes COVID-19 case numbers have increased substantially in Fiji this fortnight. 1,206 cases have been identified to date and five deaths recorded. On Wednesday 16 June, the country reported its highest daily case numbers on record,…

While much of the Pacific has kept the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic under control so far, Papua New Guinea still may not have reached the peak of the crisis, Ben Bohane writes for the Pacific Wayfinder series. When Dr Henry Ivarature left his Port Moresby home earlier this year to move to Canberra,…

Papua New Guinea is reporting higher than expected vaccination numbers, whilst Fiji has announced it will be opening temporary hospitals to deal with the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, Hugh McClure writes. The COVID-19 situation in Fiji has escalated considerably this fortnight. 264 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days, bringing the country’s…

Lockdown restrictions are being lifted in parts of Fiji, while there are fears vaccines supplied to Papua New Guinea by Australia may expire before they are administered, Hugh McClure writes. The Suva-Nausori Corridor lockdown has been lifted this week, with the capital region again divided into two containment zones. The easing of restrictions came despite…