Frontline workers placed under testing

Frontline workers who were involved in the last repatriation flight, which brought in two people who have had positive COVID19 tests, have been tested for the virus.

The assurance was provided by the Director General of the Ministry of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, who said the Government is not leaving anything to chance in an effort to keep Samoa safe.

Leausa added that all front line workers, including airport and airline staff, immigration, quarantine and Customs officers, health workers and those entering quarantine sites, were tested. The security guards at the quarantine sites, including hotel workers, are also tested, he said.    

The Director General also confirmed that an order has been placed through the United Nations for another 10,000 test kits. 

Last week the Director General confirmed that the country’s current supply of test kits stands at 4,000 with the recent arrival of another W.H.O. consignment. 

He said the priority is to test all returning Samoan residents on repatriation flights as well as frontline workers.

 On Friday, Leausa announced that a 70-year-old man had become the second person to have tested positive with COVID-19 in Samoa.

Like Samoa's first case, the elderly man had tested positive on Thursday but negative on Friday.

A returning sailor was the first suspected positive coronavirus case.

Follow-up test results show that his right nostril tested positive and the left nostril negative, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi had revealed. 

The Government has confirmed that the nasal swab and blood samples for the suspected cases have been sent to New Zealand for further evaluation and reconfirmation.