Two of the many families that suffered the wrath of Covid-19 have spoken out against the acceptance by the Government of the “new norm of living with Covid”.
“It’s understood this is one way to adapt to the Covid but at the same time Samoa has the highest rate of people with non-communicable diseases which qualifies them under the vulnerable group and so to publicly declare that we should adapt to it should be reconsidered,” said Mareta Logovi’i of Moamoa.
Mrs Logovi’i entire household was tested positive, from her parents to her children.
“Our elders and children are the most vulnerable and if we push through with this plan when we know for a fact that we’re not close to 50% of second dose vaccination for children aged 5-11 and booster shots for adults, will only cause chaos for the Samoan people.”
As of yesterday, the Ministry of Health confirmed three Covid related deaths in the country with more than 3,000 confirmed community cases.
“It seems like Samoa wants to follow New Zealand and Australia by living in Covid. But do we have enough resources in place for covid treatment,” the mother asked.
“And yet we’re still relying on New Zealand and Australia for testing kits, Covid variant samples testing and vaccines.”
The mother said the Government should only consider living with Covid after the booster vaccination of children and elders surpasses 100%. At the moment, Samoa is not ready to live with the virus.
Another mother whose husband is a frontliner told Radio Polynesia she broke all the health measures in keeping herself Covid free to provide medical care for her family.
Lina Atafua of Maluafou said as a working mother it was a real struggle. “Living with Covid is one’s worse nightmare,” she said.
Ms Atafua told Radio Polynesia, that she followed all the health measures from wearing masks out in public places, sanitizing and washing ur hands, sanitizing her home eating healthy and keeping her kids isolated, but even after doing all she wasn’t able to keep her family safe.
It started with her daughter, and then her parents were also infected.
“And any mother’s worst fear is when people you love most all coming down with Covid and all u can do is give them panadol, pray and hope for the best,” she said while holding back her emotions.
“Watching your loved one suffer coughing and trying to breathe while running a high fever, was a nightmare.”
Mrs Atafua calls on the Government to reconsider their plan until they have better healthcare measures before proceeding with the “new norm of living with COVID” as it’s evident the hospital doesn’t have the capacity to care for all the sick people in this country.
