Unsubstantiated social media reports of five Chinese nationals testing positive for the COVID-19 have been denied by the Ministry of Health, which says the reports are not true.

In a media statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry clarified that all Chinese nationals who arrived in Samoa on the 29 April 2021 flight all tested negative for the coronavirus upon arrival at the International Faleolo Airport.

"The Ministry of Health wishes to advise that rumours circulating on social media as of 22nd May 2021 of five Chinese nationals testing positive for COVID-19 are false," said the M.O.H. statement. 

"Repeated tests returned negative results for COVID-19 before discharge after 14 days of quarantine. 

“All Chinese nationals had presented evidence of completed COVID-19 vaccinations upon arrival to Samoa.

“Thus the Ministry wishes to reassure the public that to date 23rd May 2021 there is no positive COVID-19 case identified in Samoa."

The media statement issued by the MOH comes on the back of the country’s vaccination driver edging closer to the 30,000 mark with data from the Ministry showing that total vaccinations topped 26,409. 

Out of the 26,409 individuals who have been vaccinated a total of 14,588 are males and 11,821 are females. The vaccine requires a second shot to be administered 8-12 weeks after the first, in order to complete the full dose.

People who can be vaccinated include those who are 18 years and older as well as people who are most at-risk of getting severely ill if they caught COVID-19, such as people living with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory illnesses, H.I.V., cancer, kidney diseases, tuberculosis and rheumatic heart disease.

Those who cannot be vaccinated include those with a high fever (above or equal to 38 degrees), weak immune systems including those who have been on steroids for a long time and receiving active cancer treatment, and people with bleeding disorders and have known history of severe allergic reactions to vaccines including skin rash, swelling of the throat and eyes and breathing difficulty.

The M.O.H. has advised that pregnant or breastfeeding women, people who are bedridden, less than 18 years old and those over 85 years old (optional) are amongst those who will not be vaccinated.