31 Mar 2020

Samoa says 20 Covid-19 tests negative

10:48 am on 31 March 2020

Samoa still has no positive Cvoid-19 cases, after tests sent away came back negative.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Health confirmed that since the State of Emergency was declared a total of 26 samples had been sent for testing.

Twenty of those samples have all returned negative results, with only six waiting to be sent as they were done after the last plane flew out of the country following the closing of borders here and in New Zealand.

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi addresses the UN session in Apia

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi addresses the UN session in Apia Photo: UN

The Ministry also confirmed the news Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi had broken earlier in the day, that a flight attendant was under surveillance.

"Currently, one patient is in isolation at Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital under investigation," said the statement.

Tuilaepa said the patient had been brought in with high fever and was detained.

The Ministry is continuing to send out warnings and advice for the country to adhere to as it fights to keep Samoa free from the killer Covid-19 pandemic.

"We are undertaking active surveillance to detect cases of Covid-19 in Samoa early," said Ministry of Health.

The Ministry also encourages all persons who have travelled or transited through countries affected by Covid-19 to monitor themselves for the development of fever, cough and shortness of breath.

"We are all at risk for Covid-19, especially persons 60 years and over with underlying health conditions."

"If you have any of these symptoms please contact the Ministry of Health Covid-19 call centre or a doctor for advice."

Negative Covid-19 results in neighbouring American Samoa

The two swabs sent to Honolulu for testing were both negative for coronavirus, according to a report by Health Director Motusa Tuileama Nua at an Emergency Operations Center briefing aired on KVZKTV last night.

Veterans Affairs Center which has been turned into a quarantine facility

Veterans Affairs Center which has been turned into a quarantine facility Photo: Monica Miller

He said these tests were conducted at the Hawaii State Lab, and there are two other swabs awaiting shipment to Honolulu.

There have been three Covid-19 tests conducted , and all three were negative.

A total of 684 arrivals on Hawaiian Airlines from March 16 to March 26 are in quarantine, 52 are medically or fully quarantined, and 632 are home quarantined.

All 165 travellers from Samoa between March 18 and March 24 are medically or fully quarantined.

It was also announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is arranging a military flight to bring down Covid-10 supplies

The flight arrives tomorrow and is bringing a shipment of personal protective equipment, and ventilators.

American Samoa officials are also requesting FEMA for costs and blankets.

The Personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns, gloves will be distributed to first responders.