SAMOA RECORDS FIRST COVID-19 CASE
Samon Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has appealed for members of the public to remain calm after Samoa recorded its first positive coronavirus case.
The Prime Minister addressed the nation yesterday.
He said that a man in a quarantine facility -a sailor - who had flown to Samoa from Auckland last Friday, had tested positive for the virus. But he noted a second test had returned a negative result. The man was now in an isolation unit at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.
It was later revealed on Thursday morning that the man was travelling with 25 sailor colleagues from Europe who arrived with a total of 274 Samoans on the repatriation flight, last Friday.
But is was later revealed after Tuesday morning’s press conference that the man’s roommate from his quarantine facility - another sailor, from Europe - had also been isolated for security reasons.
Police were dispatched to the hospital for security reasons and to ensure there is no breach of the men’s isolation conditions.
The Prime Minister said passengers had been obliged to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to being allowed to board the flight.
“After four days [in quarantine] tests were conducted and a sailor was [tested positive] and he was immediately isolated, as per usual procedures and the Police are stationed there for safety reasons,” the Prime Minister said.
“It’s all systems go for the Government’s COVID preparedness and response plan. A second test was conducted at 6am (Thursday) and it came out negative and these things happen, hence the press conference to inform the public over this matter.
“At the same time [it is essential] for the country to remain calm. “Let us continue to remain calm and not to lose our faith in our never-ending divine blessings from our Father in Heaven.”
The Prime Minister said it had been nine months since the Government had declared a state of emergency in response to the global pandemic.
The Prime Minister said that despite Samoa not previously having recorded a positive case, the Government stood ready to combat the potential spread of the virus across the country.
He urged the public to take precautionary measures, such as washing their hands, using sanitising material; observing social distancing procedures; wearing face masks, and stopping travel between Upolu and Savaii.
“We now have one case, and [Samoa] will also be added to the countries of the world that have the coronavirus,” said Tuilaepa. The Cabinet was scheduled to meet yesterday afternoon and the public would be advised whether the news would result in changes to the current state of emergency procedures.
“However, fortunately, a [vaccination] that currently going through trials but once it is completed, and then we will get those vaccinations for us,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the Cabinet would now review plans for a further repatriation flight from North America, scheduled for November 27.
Until now Samoa has been on a list of fewer than 10 nations to have never recorded a case of the coronavirus.