The COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The first case of the disease in Fiji was reported on 19 March 2020 in Lautoka. , the country has had a total of 55,009 cases as of which 2,417 are currently active and 702 deaths, with cases reported on all divisions of the country. Apart from the COVID-19 deaths, 621 COVID-19 positive patients have died from pre-existing non-COVID-19 related illnesses. In March 2021, Fiji became the first Pacific island country to receive COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX initiative with frontline workers and first responders the first to be vaccinated. As of 2 January 2022, more than 600,000 (98%) Fijians have received their first jab of the vaccine and almost 560,000 (92%) Fijians have received their second jab and are fully vaccinated. To date, only the AstraZeneca vaccine, Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine have been deployed in the country. The country have also administered booster shots. Vaccination is mandated, however only to the adult population.
In the early stages of the pandemic, Fiji imposed travel bans on highly affected countries. As the pandemic worsened, Fiji closed all borders and ports to non-residents. Ports were closed on 16 March 2020 and the main international airport in Nadi was closed on 26 March 2020. Returning citizens were required to self-isolate at a government funded facility for 14 days, supervised by Health Officials and the Military. Domestically, the government responded by imposing a national curfew, restricting large gatherings and closing down schools and non-essential services. The government imposed lockdowns in the two largest cities of Lautoka and Suva and developed a contact tracing app named careFIJI. The government established a Centre for Disease Control for COVID-19 testing and built fever clinics nationwide for temperature checks. Such measures helped eliminate local transmissions of the virus for more than a year.
From July 2020 to April 2021, Fiji only recorded cases from managed quarantine facilities at the border as repatriation flights brought stranded citizens back home. This has allowed the country to relax its COVID-19 restrictions to boost its economic recovery however on 19 April 2021, Fiji confirmed its first community case as a result of a breach in protocol. In response, the township of Nadi and the city of Lautoka went into a lockdown and previous health restrictions were re-imposed all over the country with the national curfew restored. As local transmission cases soared exacerbated by the Delta variant, the Government sealed off the main island of Viti Levu establishing Suva, Lautoka, Nadi, Nausori, Rakiraki and Lami as containment areas which meant that over 70% of the population was now in lockdown. The government also activated FEMAT (Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team) in Suva and Lautoka. The virus penetrated prominent hospitals of Fiji including the Fiji CDC, Lautoka Hospital and the headquarters of the Ministry of Health which prompted senior health officials to go into self isolation. High number of cases continue to be recorded from the Western and Central division, with daily records being broken almost every second day. Despite this, the government has ruled out any possibility of a nationwide lockdown adding that their directive would be on targeted lockdowns instead.
The government rolled out unemployment benefits and provided food rations to targeted communities that were under lockdowns. In August 2021, the Ministry of Health suspended its contact tracing efforts and as a result, the daily number of confirmed cases dropped. The country's fastest vaccination rate was also another factor that contributed to the decrease in cases. By 10 October, the country surpassed the 80% threshold for fully vaccinated individuals which prompted the government to ease restrictions nation-wide and announcing the re-opening of the country's domestic and international border to fully vaccinated individuals. The government also announced the resumption of school as the country has also begun vaccinating its younger population aged 12 to 17 with the Pfizer BioNtech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
The pandemic forced Fiji to reduce its interest rate. The country's economy is expected to contract after decades of economic growth due to the pandemic's impact on tourism, retail, manufacturing and trade. The International Labour Organisation and the Asian Development Bank issued reports about workers being affected and warned about the rising youth unemployment rate and child labour. The impacts has also prompted residents to leave the country for short term employment overseas. There were even reported incidents of racism and xenophobia against Chinese people or to those perceived as such. Misinformation and conspiracy theories surfaced about the COVID-19 vaccines, the origin of the virus and the government's response to the pandemic. Domestic violence and assault cases against women also increased as a result of lockdowns. Protests also broke out in lockdown communities due to the delay of delivering rations as well as unemployment.
As of 24 February 2023, a total of 1,553,053 vaccine doses have been administered.
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Background On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, who had initially come to the attention of the WHO on 31 December 2019.
Compared to SARS of 2003, the case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.
Timeline of cases
Fiji confirmed its first imported case on 19 March 2020. The country subsequently confirmed its second case and first community transmission on 21 March, which was connected to the first imported case. The number of COVID-19 cases in Fiji remained low throughout 2020 with the country reporting a total of 49 COVID-19 cases, mainly in quarantine, by 30 December 2020.
Between January and March 2021, Fiji experienced a low number of imported cases. By 15 January 2021, the country had reported a total of 55 cases since the first case was detected on 19 March 2020. By 27 February 2021, Fiji had reported a total of 55 cases since 19 March 2020. By 8 March, Fiji had reported a total of 66 cases, 57 recoveries, and two deaths since March 2020.
From April 2021, Fiji experienced a rapid surge in community cases after a community transmission was reported in the city of Nadi on 19 April 2021. As a result, Nadi was placed into lockdown. By 30 April, there were 50 active cases in managed isolation (five older quarantine cases from before 18 April, 14 new imported cases, and 29 local transmissions).
By 31 May 2021, Fiji had reported a total of 438 cases since March 2020 including 267 active cases. 368 of these cases are linked to the community outbreak that began in April 2021. There have been a total of 167 recoveries and four deaths since March 2020.
By 30 June 2021, Fiji had reported a total of 4,418 cases since March 2020, with 4,348 of these been recorded since April 2021. There were 3,503 active cases and 882 recoveries in total. In addition, the death toll had risen to 21.
The situation became worse and by 31 July 2021, Fiji had reported a total of 29,781 cases since March 2020, with 29,711 of these been recorded since April 2021. There were 21,707 active cases and 7,705 recoveries in total. In addition, the death toll had risen drastically to 238.
In August 2021, the number of daily cases dropped as a result of the Ministry of Health's decision to suspend its contact tracing efforts and focus instead on monitoring patients at higher risk. From mid to late August 2021, the virus reached the main island of Vanua Levu, outer islands of Malolo, Naviti and Kadavu, as a result of breaches in travel restrictions.
By 31 August 2021, Fiji had reported a total of 46,716 cases since March 2020. There were 19,151 active cases and 26,761 recoveries in total. In addition, the death toll rose to 496. On 12 September 2021, the virus reached the island of Beqa.
On 7 October 2021, Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong announced that all future Health Ministry updates would be published on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only.
By 29 December, the total number of cases had reached 53,332; the total number of recoveries had reached 51,223; and the death toll had reached 698. Dr Fong described the new surge of cases as the beginning of the third wave of COVID-19 in Fiji.
On 4 January 2022, the Health Ministry confirmed that the Omicron variant was present in Fiji following testing by the Health Ministry and the Doherty Institute. On 23 February, the Health Ministry reported one case of the BA.2 variant at the border.
Government responses February 2020 On 3 February, the Government of Fiji toughened border security. Borders were closed to foreign nationals who have been in mainland China within 14 days of their intended travel to Fiji. Measures to maintain a hygienic environment and screening ill passengers will continue to be taken in-flight to further minimise any risk.
On 27 February, Fiji extended its travel ban and announced that travellers from Italy, Iran and the South Korean cities of Daegu and Cheongdo would be denied entry. From 28 February, all cruise ships entering Fiji have been required to make first berths at ports in Suva and Lautoka, where passengers undergo medical and travel history checks.
March 2020 On 15 March, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama had announced that from 16 March cruise ships will be banned from berthing anywhere in Fiji and international events will not be allowed in Fiji. Government ministers and staff will be restricted from travelling overseas.
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced a further extension of the ban to foreign nationals who had been present in the United States, as well as all of Europe including the United Kingdom. Also all travellers arriving in or returning to Fiji from outside of the country had to self-isolate for 14 days.
On 20 March, all schools and non-essential businesses in Lautoka had been closed at midnight, however banks, supermarkets, pharmacies and essential businesses remained open. The Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Rosy Akbar in consultation with the Prime Minister announced that the national term one school holidays that were initially scheduled from 20 April to 1 May would be brought forward, to 23 March to 3 April. Fiji Airways suspended all international flights until the end of May, with the exception of twice-weekly services between Singapore and Nadi. The government established two fever clinics in Lautoka.
On 23 March, the Fijian Government established eight fever clinics around the country with six clinics running in Nasinu, Labasa, Savusavu, and Nabouwalu. Two others had been running in Lautoka since 20 March.
On 25 March, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced that Nadi International Airport would shut down from 26 March and all local shipping services would cease from 29 March.
On 26 March, Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum revealed the COVID-19 response budget.
On 27 March, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced a nationwide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. that would take effect on 30 March.
On 30 March, Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Rosy Akbar announced that the school holidays would be extended for another two weeks until 17 April.
April 2020 On 1 April, Minister for Health and Medical Services Ifereimi Waqainabete announced that the Lautoka lockdown would be extended until 7 April to ensure that no COVID-19 cases were left undetected.