The sailor who tested positive for COVID-19, and then twice tested negative, was tested once more on Saturday but his results have not been made public yet.

On Saturday evening, the National Emergency Operations Committee (N.E.O.C.) through the Government Press Secretariat said it is still waiting for his swab test results to be tested in New Zealand, to ascertain his true diagnosis.

Swabs were sent on Friday for confirmatory testing after three different tests confused results.

In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, the Government said: "The consolidated swab tests results will be released when we receive the test results from samples send to New Zealand."

Meanwhile operations assume his first positive test is correct and the response has been to act as if Samoa has recorded its first COVID-19 case, moving the sailor and his roommate into special isolation.

The statement did not elaborate on any changes to other sailors who travelled with the patient now in hospital-based isolation, or his quarantine roommate.

The two are in the special ward at the National Hospital and are being monitored.

The Samoa Observer understands that as of Thursday afternoon neither showed symptoms of the virus, which include fever, cough, and other flu-like symptoms.

All 274 passengers who landed in Samoa on Friday 13 November were tested on Wednesday for COVID-19 and just one man, the sailor, tested positive.

If further testing confirms he is infected, his roommate is expected to test positive before long.