The Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) has confirmed 31 new COVID-19 community cases with 29 new cases and two (2) detected at the Faleolo International Airport.

In the Ministry's latest COVID-19 Pandemic Situational Report distributed to the media after 3pm Monday, the M.O.H. said the new community cases brings the total number of cases for Samoa to 14,843.

Currently there is just one patient in managed isolation at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital at Moto'otua with the hospital's intensive care unit yet to admit a COVID-19 related patient.

Despite the low reported number of new community cases, the M.O.H. appealed to the public to continue to adhere to the Ministry's COVID-19 protocols to avoid infection and to get vaccinated.

"The public is kindly reminded to remain vigilant and adhere to public health advice by continuing to wear facial masks, complying with social distancing, stay home and isolate if one feels unwell, and maintain good personal hygiene at all times," reads the Ministry's situational report. 

"Eligible members of the public are urged to please visit the nearest hospital for your first or second dose, and booster. 

"Vaccination remains our best defence against severe effects of the virus. The safety of our families and loved ones is everyone’s responsibility."

The monitoring period of the situational report released by the M.O.H. on Monday commenced from 2pm Tuesday 21 June to 2pm Thursday 23 June 2022. 

The new cases detected at the border were from the QF333 flight which arrived at the Faleolo International Airport last Tuesday. No cases have been recorded at Samoa's main Matautu port. 

Since the country's first COVID-19 community case was detected on 17 March 2022 at the national hospital, there has been a total of 283 admissions at Moto'otua with 250 discharged. 

There has been no deaths recorded during the monitoring period from 2pm Tuesday 21 June to 2pm Thursday 23 June 2022, according to the situational report. Death toll for the country remains at 29 since the country's first community case in March.

Health officials have also administered a total of 152,020 rapid antigen tests (RATs) as of last Thursday 23 June 2022, adds the situational report.