CONFIRMED: BA.1 Omicron variant now spreading in Samoa

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 01 APRIL 2022: The Ministry of Heath has confirmed that it is the BA.1 sub lineage of the Omicron variant that is now spreading in the community.

The results returned yesterday afternoon confirmed more than 50 samples of positive cases that were prepared and sent to New Zealand for genomic sequencing since Samoa’s first community case was detected on 17 March 2022.

Cases have rapidly increased since with 1,831 recorded as of yesterday, 31 March of which 1,408 are active community cases, five are isolated at the National Hospital, no case at the ICU and one Covid-19 related death was recorded on 30 March.

This sub lineage of the Omicron variant was common in many countries since the beginning of this year, however the most recent BA.2 sub lineage of the Omicron variant appears to have displaced the BA.1 in many countries including New Zealand and Australia.

Four (4) passengers from the flight on 29 March from New Zealand tested positive.
Four passengers of the flight that arrived from Auckland on Tuesday 29 March have tested positive. There were 217 passengers who were swabbed upon arrival at the airport prior to quarantine and returned 4 positive cases. These passengers will undertake their second tests tomorrow, Saturday, 2 April.

Quarantine period for the flight from New Zealand extended to 10 days
The discovery of these 4 positive cases from this flight has led to the decision to extend the quarantine period for these passengers to 10 days. NEOC has revoked the earlier decision  for a 7 days quarantine for these passengers.