The Ministry of Health has been monitoring the global and regional spread of COVID-19 since it was first declared in December 2019.
The Ministry acknowledges the support of the public in working together to protect Samoa from COVID-19.
It has been over 2 years and Samoa has so far managed to be COVID-19 free. However, this is an event we have expected and spent years preparing for – and it is an event we are dealing with decisively.
One new positive case was picked up from pre-departure testing on Thursday 17 March 2022.
This brings the number of active COVID-19 cases to 16: 15 are imported and related to the flight on the 6 March and one local community case. The Ministry of Health deployed their contact tracing teams in order to quickly identify all of those with whom the individual came into close contact.
In the course of yesterday and early this morning, some of the close contacts have been identified and have been advised to home quarantine.
However, contact tracing is still ongoing in order to identify all close contacts of the case and any other potential cases.
Public Health is advising people who visited the below areas on the following dates and time, to come forward for screening and testing at the below sites:
- 13th March 2022 at Apia International Christian Church
- 14th March 2022 at Emergency Department of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital (TTM)
- 16th March 2022 at around Apia area, Market , Library, CCK Apia, Fiji Airways
- 17th March 2022 o Vaitele Tai, Moto’otua Bus (8am – 9am)
- Public Health Building (9am – before 11am)
- Moto’otua and NUS Bus (11am -11.30am)
- National University of Samoa (NUS Campus) area next to the chemistry building around 11.30 – before 3pm
- MacDonald’s Restaurant around 3pm – 4pm With community transmission now a reality, further changes are being made to the testing strategy to ensure protection.
Testing will now focussed on:
- Those whom are symptomatic
- Close contacts of any person returning a positive test result
- Front liners, health-care workers and staff in high-risk areas.
We urge the public to come forward for testing at the below testing sites.
- Samoa Tourism Authority Fale Samoa – Apia
- Ministry of Health Nurses Credentialing Building – Motootua
- Samoa Red Cross – Tuanaimato
More sites will be set up over the weekend and the public will be advised
The public is advised Rapid antigen test is made available at all health facilities in Upolu and Savaii. General practitioners have also been deployed RAT for screening tests.
The Ministry of Health from the start of this pandemic has emphasized the continued importance of being on alert for COVID-19 symptoms.
We urge the public to self-assess and monitor yourselves in case of any arising symptoms.
Go to the nearest screening site for further screening and testing. For further information contact 800-6440.
Emphasis on prevention and protection measures As we learned years ago, these measures work, and staying at home saves lives.
It’s the best and easiest way to protect yourself and your family from getting this deadly virus, and it’s the best way to manage the spread of COVID19.
- Be disciplined with masking, hand washing, coughing etiquette and mostly social distance.
- We ask Samoa to Be Kind. Anyone can contract COVID19 regardless of race, gender, age or other personal qualities.
- Important to prepare our home care Isolation plans.
Ensure that you and your family have discussed your home plans in case family members may need to be quarantine or isolated.
Accessibility to Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital (TTM)
- Please be advised TTM is for emergencies only
- All specialists’ clinics are closed
- Dental clinic closes today at 12pm
- Emergencies for dental- Malifa dental clinic will be activated for dental emergencies only
- All patients coming in hospital (emergencies only)- will be swabbed.
- Public is hereby advised to use nearest district hospital for any medical attention or general practitioners.
- Wearing masks in the hospital is mandatory
- Having your vaccination card is mandatory.
- Must only have one(1) caregiver per patient
- Social distancing, hand washing, coughing etiquette to be practised.
We are in this together Samoa. Do it For Samoa. For more information contact MOH free call line 08006440.
Faafetai, Tagaloa Auliaimalae Dr Robert Thomsen Acting Director General of Health
