COVID-19: Samoan Health Fears latest positive case is the new variant

Arriving passengers go through checks at the Faleolo International Airport.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 16 FEBRUARY 2021: Samples of the 16 old Samoan boy’s COVID-19 positive swab test have been sent to New Zealand to be tested for the new COVID-19 variant currently spreading fast in other parts of the world.

“This is Samoa’s first COVID-19 case,” said the Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Toleafoa Take Naseri as the other positive cases of sailors who worked on cruise ships in Italy and an elderly man from Australia are recorded as historical cases.

“But this is the first case of COVID-19 for Samoa,” he told Talamua.

The 16 year old Samoan boy travelled with his mother from the United States and connected to Samoa on last Friday’s repatriation flight from New Zealand.

Leausa said the boy was tested on arrival at the Faleolo airport and the result was positive. He was tested again later at night and the same positive result was recorded.

“There were also 7 people suspected however, after testing, all were cleared, except the 16 year old boy,” said Leausa.

Swab Samples to be tested for new variant
“The samples will be sent to New Zealand to try and identify the genomic profile of the virus and our concern is, if all his tests prior to travel were negative, then he could have picked up the new strain of the new variant between Los Angeles airport and Auckland,” said Leausa.

When asked how the 16 year old was allowed entrance into the country when all requirements had to be recorded and sent prior to travel, Leausa said it was an issue they also questioned.

“All his documents including the blood and the COVID-19 tests were negative and no indication of the COVID-19 virus. His mother also tested negative,” he said.

NEOC Interim Chairman Agafili Shem Leo and the, Director General of Health, Leausa Dr.Take Naseri.

Currently, there are no symptoms of any illness such as flu, running nose, loss of appetite to indicate anything.

The boy is in isolation at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital. His mother is also closely monitored.

Leausa said they have already contacted the New Zealand International Health Regulation people and have consented to view the airlines seating positions to identify people who sat in rows close to the 16 year old boy.

“The most important task now is for Samoa to be ahead with her preparations,” he said.

Preventative measures enforced
As of this week, the Government has reinforced the preventative measures that everyone must adhere to for safety and security.

Quarantine sites have been asked to take extra precaution and wear their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times and strictly no contact with anyone.

“The quarantine people have also been cautioned not to congregate and sports which had been allowed before have been ruled out,” he said.

More than 20 declined entrance
The Interim Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Agafili Shem Leo confirmed that more than 20 people were denied entrance in last week’s repatriation flight.

This was due to their non-compliance with the requirements needed to secure their entrance.

Agafili also confirmed that since the beginning of repatriations flights last year, there were always people who were rejected until they satisfied the travel requirements.

Last Friday’s flight brought in 162 passengers, one of them was a nurse who came to escort a patient for treatment in New Zealand.

Of the 161 in quarantine, some of them travelled from as far as Sudan, United States, New Zealand and Australia.