Father of Covid positive 16 year old makes impassioned plea against spiteful messages

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APIA, SAMOA – 23 MARCH 2021: The father of the 16 year old boy who was tested Covid positive and recently released for home isolation, has put out an impassioned message to defend his son against “hateful” and “spiteful” comments  “based on conjecture and misinformation.”

In a letter to the Editor, Gary Vui, also names his son Lio Vui, an up and coming golfer who is passionate about becoming a professional. Following is Gary Vui’s letter.

The Editor,

In regards to the above I write to advise the public of Samoa the “16 year old boy” the Health Department had Covid was our son Lio.

I am putting out this impassioned message as a father and on behalf of his mother,

I wish to also advise the public after 22 days in TOTAL ISOLATION in a hospital room, with NO fresh air or outside exposure, then 14 more days SELF isolation at our home, he has been FULLY CLEARED of Covid!!!! He was FULLY CLEARED on Saturday the 19th of March to resume normal activities with some requirements, requirements ALL QUARANTINED people are requested follow for 14 days.

During the time of his isolation/s Lio had NO SYMPTOMS of any sort that are supposed with Covid, NONE…. or any other illnesses..

After being FULLY CLEARED last Saturday, on Monday he went out to golf, his love and passion and his possible future as a golf professional, “to practice on his own”, “away from others” and after 36 days not being able to play or practice he was obviously excited.

Unfortunately and sadly people on social media attacked him and us with hateful, spiteful comments without the facts, just assuming he had broken Health Department protocols and rules by being there.!!

Emotions understandably get high during times we are experiencing now in Samoa and the world.. and when Media spread news about a case such as this and ALL the facts are not out there in a timely fashion for whatever reason sadly Social media as it is has so many experts who are hateful and spiteful people who make comments based on conjecture and misinformation.

When you live in a country as small as ours it is sad that HATE is aimed at a 16 year old boy who is NOT a criminal, has broken NO LAWS, has followed ALL of the HEALTH DEPARTMENT protocols, as stressful as they were, he has been fully CLEARED.

ALL WE RESPECTFULLY ask is get the FACTS, ALL of the facts before you HATEFULLY AND in this case WRONGLY comment…. your HATEFUL comments are aimed an IMPRESSIONABLE GROWING HEALTHY NON CONTAGIOUS NON COVID 16 year old…. he would NOT be out of quarantine if he were not cleared, we would not break any Health Department protocols or put others any danger, for people to think this is so SMALL MINDED and typical of HATE filled people!!

To those who ignorantly have made or will make hateful/spiteful unwarranted comments aimed at him, shame on you.

We understand that everyone is concerned about getting Covid, the Health Department and government are doing their best to ensure Samoa is free of Covid, “our Health Department has done an excellent job to date in keeping Covid at bay,” which obviously included our son’s isolation etc…

Unfortunately he will live out his days being supposedly the first Covid case in Samoa, that STIGMA will be with him forever.

I know this message will fall on many deaf ears, people will continue to HATE and comment negatively, sadly that is human nature, but I want to put it out there, OUR son IS 100% CLEARED, he had NO SYMPTOMS of any illness before, during and after his LOCK DOWN, was not contagious but tested positive so he was isolated.

If you want to spread hate filled messages please send them to me on fb or email..I expect a lot of negativity after this message gets out there, so be it, but please not our INNOCENT son.

It would be wonderful to live in a hate free world, sadly we don’t, believe me I am far from perfect,, I/we will not judge the haters, we will leave that to Heavenly Father, but I would like to get FACTS and TRUTH out there… from our perspective…

like any father would I will PROTECT MY FAMILY as I am sure ALL out there would/do hence this message..

HUMBLY and RESPECTFULLY, LOVE and GOD is what Samoa is raised on, NOT hate….

We pray for our HEAVENLY FATHERS forgiveness for all of our sins and may he BLESS all of Samoa and our people during these trying and stressful times..

God Bless

Garry Vui
Chief Executive Officer
Nonu Samoa Enterprises Ltd
Vaivase uta, Apia
SAMOA
Ph: +685 23010
Mbl: +685 7770589 / +685 7723010
Website: www.nonusamoa.com