COVID UPDATE: 1 Confirmed Case in Savaii – 110 cases in Upolu

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 20 MARCH 2022: There is now one confirmed Covid-19 community case in Savai’i and 110 confirmed cases in Upolu.

These are of the latest stats released by the Government as at 2pm Saturday 19 March 2022. The report also said there are no active cases recorded for the islands of Manono and Apolima as of time of report.

The latest figures show there are 15 Active Imported cases that include 3 frontline workers.  There are 22 Symptomatic cases in isolation ward at Moto’otua Hospital. There are 89 Asymptomatic Cases in the isolation sites.

First Community Transmission Case
The first community case was announced on Thursday night, 17 March which was later found to be an overseas person who had been living in Samoa for close to three years and was detected when tested as requirement for her to return to her country. It was also revealed this person had a number of contacts before she was tested, including the National University of Samoa.

Since the first announcement, the number of community cases had jumped from one to 45 then to 95 at 2pm on Saturday 19 March.

At the Leulumoega district hospital, Talamua asked the Acting Director of Health Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thompsen in the presence of Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and the Minister of Health Valasi Tafito Selesele, if there were any COVID-19 positive cases from Savaii, but was told they had not had time to assess the information given about positive cases.

The Minister of Health, Valasi Tafito Selesele, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa and Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thompsen at the Leulumoega District Hospital.

This was around 2.00 pm and the official cases announced then were 45 and reports were already circulating of a positive case in Savaii.

“We are currently visiting all district hospitals and have not had time to assess and identify the locations of the 45 community cases,” Tagaloa told Talamua.

The Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa also cautioned the country not to believe any information posted on social media about a “reliable source saying” but to take information from the Government and the Ministry of Health as the correct and official information on any issues pertaining to COVID-19.

Positive cases identified at testing sites
On Saturday morning, testing at the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) site detected three youths who tested positive to COIVID-19.

After being told of their test results, they were asked to remain on the stage (to be isolated from the rest of the people) while the testing continued.

Two health staff in full protective gear later arrived and took the three to be isolated at the national hospital.

At the Leulumoega district hospital, three more positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed and were transferred to the National Hospital, Moto’otua.

The COVID-19 testing will continue on Monday.