272 Arriving Passengers Return Negative COVID 19 Test Results

APIA, SAMOA – 14 FEBRUARY: All 272 passengers who arrived from New Zealand last Saturday, 12 February 2022, were swabbed upon arrival, and all returned negative results as of Sunday morning.

All of the 272 passengers have settled in quarantine sites for 21 days.

This repatriation flight was scheduled to arrive 22 January but was postponed due to the nationwide lockdown following the positive cases from the flight that arrived from Brisbane on 19 January, 2022.

To ensure minimal threat of the spread of COVID 19 beyond the borders, the 134 highest risk frontline workers were also quarantined straight after processing the flight. This is a new policy measure now in place.

The frontline workers now in quarantine for 72 hours include those from the Ministry of Health, staff of the Samoa Immigration, Customs, and Quarantine, Samoa Airport Authority, Samoa Airways, and drivers.

The 5 positive cases from the flight of 19 January who were quarantined at Faleolo hospital, and 2 positive cases in the Isolation Ward at Motootua Hospital all returned negative tests on Saturday, 12 February, 2022 after their third negative consecutive test results. As per process, MOH have released them from isolation.

The latest update from NEOC says all remaining positive cases are being closely monitored in isolation and continue to remain well and asymptomatic.