District Court Judge and Coroner, Alalatoa Rosella Papali’i has ordered an inquest into Samoa’s first COVID related death.
This was confirmed by Acting Police Commissioner, Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo in response to questions from Radio Polynesia.
Last week, the Ministry of Health confirmed the first COVID-19 related death on the 30th March 2022, 13 days after the first community case was detected on the 17th of March 2022.
The deceased, a 67-year-old male, had multiple comorbidities. He died shortly after he was admitted to the Lalomanu District Hospital yesterday.
Auapa’au told Radio Polynesia the Coroner did not order a post-mortem and the body is to be released to the family for burial forthwith, but the hearing for the inquest has been scheduled for 20 July 2022.
To date, Samoa has recorded two deaths where COVID is a factor.
The second death was an 87-year-old female from the district of Faasaleleaga Number 2 in Savaii.
“She was admitted to Malietoa Tanumafili II Hospital at Tuasivi on Thursday, 31st March 2022 with severe respiratory symptoms, and was diagnosed with COVID19 and severe pneumonia. She had no known medical comorbidities however, she was unvaccinated.
Despite the best efforts of the medical and nursing team at MT Hospital to respond to the patient, her conditions worsened and she eventually passed away at 10.30 am.
