Another six more people have tested positive to COVID-19 overnight bringing the total number of active cases in Samoa to 26, says the Government Press Secretariat. 

In a statement issued at around 6.30pm on Tuesday, the Press Secretariat said that the six new cases are individuals who were passengers on the Brisbane flight to Samoa last Wednesday.

The six patients are being managed and controlled in quarantine, added the Press Secretariat's statement.

The latest COVID-19 cases is on top of the five frontline workers who are also nurses who tested positive on Monday.

“The PCR tests for the rest of those in quarantine all returned negative,” says the Press Secretariat.

The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri told Blu TV media on Tuesday afternoon that two of the latest COVID-19 cases detected is suspected to be historical.  

Since the detection of the large number of positive cases originating from the Brisbane flight last week, Leausa added that the results to identify the variant should be confirmed this week. 

He also dismissed claims that some of the frontline workers on duty last Wednesday processing the Brisbane flight passengers were allegedly out in the community and later put back into isolation. 

He said the essential workers were all in quarantine when the COVID-19 cases were detected. 

“[We’re] 95 per cent certain there was no community transmission…,” he said. 

There were 73 passengers who flew into Samoa n the flight from Australia last Wednesday and are currently being kept in isolation. 

A total of 228 people including frontline workers were tested this week for COVID-19. 

The National Emergency Operation Centre (N.E.O.C.) Chairman, Agafili Shem Leo told the media on Monday that there are strict processes in place to screen returning citizens. 

He could not confirm reports that some of the passengers on the Brisbane flight who tested positive was a family who came for a funeral. 

Agafili said short visits for funerals or any other fa’alavelave are prohibited under S.O.E. Orders and if found to be true the family could be prosecuted and fined. 

“There was no application on that basis to attend a funeral that we received because it known that it is prohibited,” he said. 

“There were more than 200 people that applied [for the Australian repatriation flight] but only 73 people were qualified to board and it shows our travel advisory are well managed. 

“From the 73 passengers not one of them disclosed that they are here to attend a funeral. 

“These are speculations and we will investigate it…” 

Agafili said once an Incident Report is submitted to N.E.O.C. regarding the recent flight they will refer it to the police for investigation to confirm allegations.   

Samoa remains at Alert Level 3 with a nationwide lockdown in effect until 6.00pm Thursday, 27 January 2022. The S.O.E. Order 63 was issued with conditions for Alert Level 3 on Monday, 24 January included amendments such as;

Opening of banks, money transfers, markets for fresh produce, shops and supermarkets, pharmacies and cash power outlets from 8am to 2pm on Tuesday and Thursday.

Mandatory wearing of facial masks, showing of vaccination cards, social distancing, and all children under 12 are prohibited from entering these public places.