Vanuatu Situation Report – Issued 20 April Covering 19 to 20 April 2022

SUMMARY AND DISEASE BURDEN

• On 04 March 2022, an active COVID-19 case was confirmed at Vila Central Hospital who had no travel history, indicating transmission at community level.
• As of 20 April 2022, Shefa, Sanma and Torba provinces are at Alert Level 3 (Very High). The other three provinces of Vanuatu are at Alert Level 1 (Medium Risk) due to the risk of importation of COVID-19.
• A total of 6537 confirmed cases have been reported since the beginning of 2022.
• 43 new confirmed cases have been reported in the last 24 hours, including 15 on Efate island (Shefa province), 20 on Santo island (Sanma province) and 8 in Torres (Torba Province)
• Currently, there are 2 cases hospitalized directly due to COVID-19 infection in SHEFA, both cases are in stable condition. Further investigation ongoing for hospitalized cases reported in SANMA.
• There have been unverified reports of cases in Penama Province; provincial teams have been deployed to investigate.
• Five (5) additional deaths, 2 from Shefa province and 3 from Sanma province that were included in this report. Three males, 29 year old unvaccinated with underlying health conditions, 31 years old fully vaccinated with underlying health conditions and 92 years old vaccinated with underlying health condition; two females, 50 and 57 years old both vaccinated and had underlying health conditions. All 5 deaths occurred several days ago but have recently been confirmed to be due to COVID-19 infection.

Today the Ministry of Health confirmed 29 positive cases of COVID-19 in Torba Province and 25 on Pentecost Island. All of Torba Province and Pentecost Island will move immediately to Level 3 of the Vanuatu Outbreak Alert System, which means there is widespread community transmission, and the risk is very high.