Samoa’s COVID-19 Positive Case now at Home Quarantine

Security at Samoa’s borders against COVID-19.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 10 MARCH 2021: The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri confirmed early this week that Samoa’s first COVID-19 positive case has been released after the mandatory 21 days quarantine at the hospital to home quarantine.

The National Emergency Operations Centre’s interim Chairman, Agafili Shem Leo said NEOC assessed and inspected the 16 year old boy’s family home and also sought approval from the boy’s village mayor and neighbours before releasing him.

“We have placed security personnel at his home and the Ministry of Health continues its routine visits to his family,” said Leausa.

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

All the 161 passengers who travelled together with the boy on the repatriation flight from New Zealand on the 12 February, have been cleared, except for the boy who remains COVID-19 positive.

“We will release him from his quarantine when we know for certain he is clear of the virus,” said Leausa.

The boy is not allowed any visitors or allowed out of his quarantine bubble. The virus he is carrying is the COVID-19 B.1.2 variant common in South America and some parts of the UK which is not easily transmissible.

Leausa said his last test showed the virus weakening hence the decision to place him under home quarantine.

Update on repatriation flight passengers
The passengers on the special Fiji airline repatriation flight on 2 March from the US brought 50 passengers including returning patients from Hawaii and church missionaries who all tested negative.

They will be retested on 14 and 20 March and will be released after 21 days in quarantine if they are all clear.

The 154 passengers on the 5 March flight from New Zealand all tested negative. The passengers include 8 returning patients from India via Dubai, New Zealand then to Samoa.  They too will undergo more tests.

The list of returning applicants increases
As of Friday last week, the list of people wanting to return home continues to rise with applicants in New Zealand on top.

“We were surprised because there have been a lot of chances for them to travel on previous repatriation flights,” said Agafili.

He believes that people have the mindset that when they feel like coming home they could just easily do so, but there are protocols to follow.

“We are not taking any choices that you return when you feel like. We know the countries you are at are not extending visitor’s visa so they have no choice but to return,” said Agafili.

He also emphasized that the repatriation flights are not to bring in people just to cast their votes in next month’s general election then return home.

Scheduled flights for May & June
The flights scheduled at the end of this month has been cancelled but there are flights already scheduled for April, May and June.

Anyone caught travelling on these flights to attend a funeral, wedding or a visit will be fined $2000 tala.

“Some people do not mention on their travel documents the reason of their visit but we will know from our records that this person has not been in Samoa for the past four years,” said Agafili.

NEOC continues to urge the people to heed the State of Emergency orders.