Samoa Global News responds to Naila Tyner

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 21 MARCH 2022: The Samoa Global News named by Samoa’s first Covid-19 positive community case as spreading her detailed information, has responded saying “at no time do we have ‘all your information.. so detailed’ as stated on your post.”

Tuiloma Sina Retzlaff of Samoa Global News said “We, too, are also very disappointed in your public naming and shaming of Samoa Global News at this crucial time of having to get out the right information for our people.”

In a video clip posted on social media last night, Naila Tyner said she was disappointed with the SGN story saying, “Writing in a way (that) I infected these people in the hospital? Literally when I read it, I thought what if they infected me? By going to the hospital they infected me?”

Tuiloma Sina Retzlaff’s response is published below in full.

Dear Naila,

“We pray for God’s healing over you at this time.

“We’ve read through our articles again and at no time do we have “all your information.. so detailed” as you have stated on your post. We would never do that as a news site. Also at no time do we state that “you infected all those people in the hospital..”

“We, too, are also very disappointed in your public naming and shaming of Samoa Global News at this crucial time of having to get out the right information for our people.

“What we do list, in as much detail as possible – are your movements. We list your movements as Places of Interest”. We cannot apologise for that. Your movements since you felt symptomatic is important public information. All over the world, movements of infected persons are listed in detail as Places of Interest to inform others of any possible risks to them and their families, especially those with unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children.

“That information has been crucial and has been a blessing to so many people who could identify with the “Places of Interest” because they were then able to isolate from as early as Friday. Many were able to get tested and keep their families safe. These incidences of people/parents being grateful for the information are all mentioned in our articles.

“We do report that doctors, nurses, patients and caregivers had been tested positive at the hospital. Those are verified facts about our healthcare workers and important information for the public.

“We do not mention any personal information about you as you’ve stated nor do we name you or blame you for the outbreak. That would be wrong. However your widely shared post will do damage to us, as it will make people think you are right, and you have somehow been victimised by SGN. We serve a just God and we leave this before Him.

“We are grateful to God that by your pre-departure testing, Samoa has stumbled across the community outbreak. We pray for God’s strength and for His covering over you. We wish you well as you recover.

“God Bless.”

Sina
Samoa Global News

Naila Tyner.

Naila Tyner is a 29 year old American missionary who had been with the Apia International Community Church and she had been living in Samoa for about three years and was detected when she took a mandatory test to be able to travel back to her country last Friday.

In her post, she said she was recovering from congestion and tightness of the chest, but still no serious symptoms so far. “Personally, I’m healing. I’m recovering and just taking it day by day.” She also thanked the frontliners, the doctors and all the nurses working so hard and making sure everyone who is positive is taken care of and doing their best to make sure the virus is contained and that the people infected are taken care of.