Public Detained in Vaccination Tent for an Hour while Healthcare Workers Take Extra Precautionary Measures
03 February 2022, Apia Samoa. About 20 members of the public lined up at the vaccination centre at Motootua National Hospital were detained for just over an hour this morning, as healthcare workers took extra precautionary measures to test a person who had “shown symptoms of covid-19” according to one of the nurses.
Three members of the public who were detained in the vaccination tent shared their experience with Samoa Global News. They agreed healthcare workers acted professionally, and they were well informed of the situation during the hour-long ordeal.
“it was a bit daunting, but hats off to the Ministry of Health service,” said one source, “their staff were really good, I guess they are trained for that”.
Another source said once they were all seated inside the tent, one of the nurses came out and asked them to bear with them. “She said one of the guys showed symptoms of covid, and had been rushed off to be tested. We had to wait for about an hour until everything was cleared up.”
Sources said they felt that it was a “really good call” by the healthcare workers, and they felt that it was “better to be safe than sorry” with the extra precautionary measures taken by the nurses.
After an hour a security guard was sent to tell them that everything was cleared. The area was sanitised according to sources, and they were allowed to leave.
“They said the guy had been checked by the doctors and he was ok,” said one source.
Attempts to get more information from the Ministry of Health were unsuccessful, however, one healthcare worker who did not wish to be named for fear of retribution said the person had presented with a high fever, and the actions taken in the tent were part of protocols to be followed as precautionary measures as Samoa remains in Level 2 lockdown.
Director General (DG) of Health Leausa Dr Take Naseri was said to be on inspections to Lufilufi District Hospital and Assistant CEO Tagaloa Dr Robert Thomsen was also on inspections (o la e alu i ana asiasiaga) and could not be contacted for comment.
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