A nurse working within the Isolation Ward of the Motootua National Hospital helping to monitor Samoa’s Covid-19 cases has today tested positive.
The additional case takes Samoa’s total to 31, with 25 passengers and 6 nurses.
A government Press Secretariat release confirms that the newest case returned as a result of the sixth testing schedule on 1st February.
The other 48 passengers continue to test negative and are in good health, according to the statement.
The public are assured that, “The 25 positive tested passengers are all asymptomatic and are in good health. Likewise the 6 nurses in the isolation unit, though positive, are asymptomatic and in good health”.
All frontline workers taken into quarantine as a precautionary measure continue to present negative test results, remain asymptomatic and in good health.
The cumulative total of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic is now 33 when the 2 imported cases who had fully recovered, identified in 2021 are taken into account.
“There are no community cases suspected or identified in the community”.
“There is also vigilant monitoring of breaches of the SOE and in particular, the conditions of quarantine”.
VACCINE ROLLOUT
On February 1, at around 16:15hrs, an Australian Royal Airforce plane arrived with 10,000 of the AstraZeneca vaccine in time for the rollout of the Vaccine program. The intention is to be able to achieve a higher target of the total population that are fully vaccinated as that is important to our herd immunity as well as advance a shift towards the implementation of a booster policy.
A WORD OF APPRECIATION
Samoa is privileged to be well supported in our COVID response by our development partners through many different avenues such as access to adequate Vaccines supplies, the provision of equipment and PPEs and related supplies for preventive health measures, testing capacity supplies, project grants, technical advisory services, training and consultations (conducted virtually).
We acknowledge the support of all our partners; Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, United Kingdom, United Nations and specialised agencies, USA, and all those who have made significant contributions to the COVAX Facility. We also thank all intergovernmental and regional organisations for facilitating services to ensure essential supplies reach countries in a timely manner.
There is also special acknowledgement of all our frontline workers; our defence line in keeping COVID 19 out or at the border. The public’s demonstration of perseverance and adherence to the conditions of lockdown is commendable.
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