Coronavirus

The marriage event was reportedly attended by President Edouard Fritch and all of the territory's cabinet.

News website Tahiti Infos reports the French High Commission saying that health protocols for mass gatherings were not followed.

The new limits had been imposed after a resurgence of COVID-19 in July saw a massive influx in numbers being admitted to hospital.

These changes require that people attending social events are seated, six per table, with tables one metre apart, no musical or artistic events, and that masks are used extensively.

Fiji now has over 24,420 active cases in isolation, with 317 deaths - 315 of them from this latest outbreak that began in April.

The government also confirmed 603 new cases for the 24 hours to 8am yesterday.

That compares with 657 cases and three deaths in the previous 24-hour period.

Health Secretary Doctor James Fong said all the victims had died between August 4 and 9.

He said 11 of the deaths were reported in the Western Division and seven from the Central Division.

The latest figures from the start of August show huge increases when compared with the same period in July.

By the end of July, Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services had recorded 25,363 new infections and 218 deaths for the month.

According to government figures, the country started July with 3503 infections but by the month's end, 21,707 people were living with the Delta strain of the coronavirus.

Eleven of the 21 crew on board the Rio De La Plata are confirmed to have the virus.

Public Health staff took the test swabs in Tauranga from the crew as part of the requirements for entry for the vessel to its next stop - Napier.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement that it was likely at least some of the 11 crew were active cases of COVID-19 and further test results, expected today, would help determine how many of the crew were likely to be historical cases and no longer infectious.

The government also confirmed six more deaths including an 18-year-old woman.

That compares with 752 cases and seven deaths in the previous 24-hour period.

Health Secretary Doctor James Fong said of the latest cases, 193 are from the Western Division and 489 cases from the Central Division.

Dr Fong said the latest victims died on 5 and 6 August, with three deaths in the Central Division and three in the Western Division.

He said all but two of the patients were not vaccinated.

The Delta outbreak, which began in Sydney's eastern suburbs 54 days ago, has been concentrated around Fairfield, in the city's south-west, for several weeks.

But 92 of 319 new cases recorded in the 24 hours to 8:00pm Friday were from the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area (LGA), sparking warnings the virus was on the move again.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there had been "a rapid increase" in COVID infections in the LGA this week, with around 500 new cases identified.

The new cases, which are all linked to previous cases in the outbreak, were detected from among 43,618 test results processed on Friday.

It is the highest single-day increase in local cases this year, ahead of 27 cases detected on 21July.

The number of exposure sites linked to the outbreak continues to grow, with supermarkets and a GP clinic among the latest locations added in Melbourne's west.

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.

One of those people travelling from Moscow had the Delta variant of COVID-19. After they left the plane, staff from the Nanjing Lukou airport swooped in to pick up their rubbish.

According to Chinese officials, when those cleaners exited the aircraft they brought the virus along with them to the outside world - sparking what has now become China's widest outbreak since Wuhan.

In the last few weeks, at the height of the summer travel season, Delta has been detected in at least 16 Chinese provinces and municipalities. Most cases are linked to Nanjing.

Basic protocols are to be practiced either way, as herd immunity is a long way off from being effectively implemented.

Father Edward Revilla is a missionary priest who has been around Papua New Guinea for many years, ministering to Catholic Faithful at the Shrine of Mary help of Christians in Boroko.

He also spends time with the students listening and counselling them while also hearing their confessions. Father Edward Revilla is always in constant contact with people.