10 COVID CASES: No lockdown, Samoa Still on Alert Level One

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 20 JANUARY 2022: There will be no lockdown despite the 10 positive COVID19 cases of Samoans who arrived Wednesday 19 January 2022 on the direct Repatriation Flight from Brisbane, Australia.

The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri and NEOC Chairman, Agafili Shem Leo have assured the country that there is no community transmission so far and the cases have been limited to the quarantine and isolation sites.  Samoa remains at Level 1-Yellow.

Four males and six females out of seventy three passengers on yesterdays’ flight from Australia have been tested positive of Covid-19.

The youngest is 11-months-old while the oldest is a 63-years-old male.

Leausa said there have been no symptoms so far observed from the 10 cases and they have been isolated at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital and further tests.

Nine of the passengers who have had close contacts with the confirmed cases have been isolated at the Faleolo Clinic across from the airport.

Meanwhile, the test samples will be flown on the first outbound flight to New Zealand to determine which Covid-19 variant is affecting the 10 passengers.

“But we’re suspecting that it’s the omicron variant since the flight came from Australia,” said Leausa.

The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri and NEOC Chairman, Agafili Shem Leo briefing the media this afternoon

Due to the latest positive cases, the flight from New Zealand scheduled to land at the Faleolo airport this Saturday has been postponed until further notice.

Further flights from Australia have also been on hold.

To date, there is no community transmission following the latest positive cases and the public is advised to wear face masks and maintain basic health sanitation practices such as washing hands.

“Omicron is highly transmittable and very contagious compared to the Delta variant.  Omicron as we have witnessed from overseas poses a high mobility that can devastate our country if there is a community outbreak,” said Leausa.

“We are confident that there is no community transmission (as of today 20^th January 2022) in the country,” he reassured.

Among the compulsory requirement in place for all new arrivals is for SWAB tests at the Airport before they are discharged to their selected Isolation Sites even after testing negative.

Meanwhile, the rest of the passengers are in quarantine in ten various locations for daily checks and monitoring.

Even the Health frontline staff who processed the flight are now in isolation at the National Hospital Compound and are not allowed to go home as protection from a possible community outbreak.

“Isolating the health staff is made in the best interests of their families and to eliminate any chances of a community transmission outbreak,” said Leausa. “It’s a huge ask for the staff but it must be done.”