Samoa COVID 19 confirmed cases now at 30.

Samoa has recorded 30 confirmed positive cases of COVID 19 as of to date.

A total of 301 people are being closely monitored in managed isolation. This includes the 73 passengers that travelled to Samoa from Brisbane, Australia on the 19th of January and 228 frontline public servants who worked at the airport and came into close contact with the passengers when the flight arrived.

Twenty-five passengers have tested positive for Covid-19 and five registered nurses who provided health care services for the initial group of passengers also tested positive. 

The Director for the Ministry of Health  Leausa Dr Take Naseri reassures the public that the 30 confirmed cases continue to be in good spirits and are asymptomatic, and there are no community transmissions.

Upon detection of the positive cases, the Government of Samoa under the advice of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) activated Level 3 of its nationwide lockdown operations on January 22nd.

Level 3 requires everyone to stay home, schools and businesses closed, inter-island and international travel suspended and mass gatherings prohibited. 

However, the lockdown level was relaxed and changed to Level 2 on January 28th, because there are no community transmissions. At Level 2, work and businesses are back in operation at certain hours, schools are still closed until further notice and mass gatherings are limited to a maximum of 30 people.

The UN Country Team in Samoa through the WHO and UNICEF has been working closely with the Government of Samoa on COVID 19 preparedness and response policies, procurement of vaccines, cold chains and vehicles. The UN has employed vaccination specialists from UNICEF with the Samoa Ministry of Health to support the ministry and their ongoing efforts towards COVID 19.

During these challenging times, the UN stands in solidarity with the people of Samoa in the hope every effort to contain and to recover from the impact of this disease will be well supported.

During the lockdown period the Ministry of Health on January 27th managed to administer a total of 1,082 vaccinations; 

ASTRA ZENECA

• First dose: 204

• Second dose: 596 PFIZER

• First Dose: 149

• Second Dose: 133

The total vaccination count for Samoa as of January 27 shows that 106,339 of the eligible population have been fully vaccinated for the Astra Zeneca vaccine, and 9,645 (12 – 17 years) have been fully vaccinated for the Pfizer vaccine.