10:40pm Thursday 17 March 2022 Apia Samoa. A community case has been confirmed for Samoa, triggering a gradual lift of Alert Levels from midnight tonight.
In a special announcement, Prime Minister Hon Fiame Naomi Mataafa confirmed nation would shift to Alert Level 2 from midnight tonight for 24 hours, and then elevate to Alert Level 3 or Code Red from Friday night (12am Saturday) for four days until midnight on Tuesday.
Fiame stated Samoa’s first community case tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday afternoon. “This individual was tested as a pre-requisite for departure from Samoa, and the result came back positive,” stated the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister reminded everyone that under Alert Level 2, it is compulsory to wear masks and show your vaccination card. Schools are closed under Level 2, as are night clubs, bars, fitness centres and games.
Alert Level 3 Code Red is a nation-wide lockdown. All citizens are to stay home, except for essential services. The Prime Minister said Cabinet will then re-assess the situation before the announced Level 3 lockdown ends next Tuesday.
“Let us continue to trust in the Lord for He is our healer and protection,” encouraged the Prime Minister. “Government asks for your patience and support in keeping Samoa safe”.
The Prime Minister stated the Health Ministry have begun the process of contact tracing and the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) will be distributing relevant information about the movements of the individual, as well as close contacts soon.
However, in the meantime, a leaked document which has all the information about the individual including name and village, as well as movements, has been spreading through social media, being shared widely through private messages and on group chats.
It is understood the history of the individual and places of interest are listed as follows:
History / Places of Interest
Saturday 12 March – developed symptoms.
Sun 13 March – went to church (Apia International Christian Church)
Mon 14 March – came to Emergency Department around 5pm with symptoms of vomiting and chills.
Tue 15 March – stayed home
Wed 16 March – went shopping (Market, Library, CCK, Fiji Airways Travel Centre in Apia). Then had a church gathering in the evening with about 20 – 30 people.
Thurs 17 March: 8am – Caught bus to town from Vaitele Tai. Caught bus from the market to Motootua (Motootua bus).
9am – Arrived at PH building within hospital. Waited for 2hrs for PCR test.
11am- Caught Motootua bus to the market. From there she caught the NUS bus to NUS.
11:30am – Arrived at NUS. Bible sharing with about 15 students (next to the Chem lab).
3pm – Left NUS and went to McDonalds with a friend (spent an hour) 4pm – Went to the waterfront area, walked to the police station where she caught the bus to come to the hospital. Came to the PH building before walking down to the PH Lab.
Samoa is almost 69% double vaxxed for all of population including children, and over 90% have received first doses. For eligible adults, the percentage of double vaxxed is at 89.7% while first doses are at 98.9%.
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