COVID-19: Another Sailor Tests Positive

Passengers on a Covid-19 repatriation flight arrive at Faleolo Airport.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 29 JANUARY 2021: A 23 year old Samoan sailor continues to be in isolation at the Moto’otua National Hospital after he tested positive to COVID-19 on Wednesday 27 January.

The sailor served on a cruise ship in Italy and returned home on the 22 January repatriation flight from New Zealand and went through the testing procedures at the Faleolo airport.

The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri said, “all 258 passengers on that flight tested negative and were disbursed to different quarantine sites.”

All passengers went through another swap test on Tuesday evening and the positive result came early Wednesday morning.

“He was immediately removed from the quarantine site and is currently isolated at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital,” said Leausa.

The sailors’ declaration form stated that the COVID-19 test conducted in Italy was negative but the blood test was positive indicating that he must have been exposed to someone who had the virus.

Leausa said when the sailor was questioned about the case said he did not feel much of it.

“There are no symptoms of any illnesses and he is being monitored,” said Leausa.

The remaining passengers at the quarantine site have been informed of the situation and so is the sailor’s family.

The first historical cases for Samoa were also sailors working on cruise ships in Italy.

Preparations for Vaccination
Leausa said Samoa has already applied for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine and Samoa is prepared Government will lead the vaccination campaign starting with the frontline workers.

In the meantime Leausa said he hopes to consult with the United States officials in Samoa and American Samoa and the Marshall Islands who have had their COVID-19 first wave of vaccination, if there are any side effects or impact of the vaccine on anyone.

Leausa anticipates there will be people who will refuse to be vaccinated claiming human rights and the Government will have to resort to the law to ensure as a measure of protection for all.

There will also be a committee monitoring any adverse effects of the vaccine on anyone.

Sailors complain over food at quarantine sites
Several sailors have complaint about the food they are receiving at the quarantine sites.

The Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Center, Agafili Shem Leo said these sailors who have worked on cruise ships are used to the high standard of food served on those ships and expected the same quality from the sites.

They have also complaint about the air conditioning in the rooms as not cool enough for them.

“They cannot compare our rooms and food to what they are used to on the cruise ships and they must also realize that they are only in there for 21 days and after that they will return to the reality of life here.”

Agafli appealed to them to be patient.