By Martha Taumata Faavae
The 16-year-old male who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on arrival from the US may delay the release of the other quarantine travellers he was with on the flight from New Zealand.
Test results of specimen sent to New Zealand will decide that.
The young carrier is asymptomatic and continues to be tested positive while in the Isolation Unit of the TTM Hospital where he is by himself.
He is the first person who showed up in Samoa with the pandemic virus about two weeks ago.
All the others before him and a few he was travelling with were historic cases who caught the virus outside Samoa.
By the time they arrived home they were already treated and stayed in isolation until they were re-tested and cleared to go home.
“The quarantine may re-start for all the 160 passengers on the same flight as this carrier depending on the results of the NZ tests,” Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, said.
“We cannot afford to release any of the passengers if there are any doubts about carrying the virus.”
Most of the NEOC preparations are now aimed at the arrival of the pandemic vaccines.
Leausa said there is a fair bit of preparatory work to be done on the handling of the vaccines when they arrive.
“Cabinet has approved our request for repatriation flights scheduled for March and April to be put on hold while we concentrate on our preparations for the vaccine.
“ The medications have to be stored at minus 80 degrees temperature to be effective when injected.”
Training of nurses to handle the vaccination work is done to brush up on their skills because not all are qualified for the work.”
Leausa said the plan is to start the vaccination as soon as the vaccines arrive to minimise any storage issues.
The injections will carry out at the same time in Upolu and Savaii.
NEOC Chairman Agafili Shem Leo is calling on Samoan national in New Zealand and Australia to take their vaccination shots there if possible,
He said it will save on the extra work when they come to Samoa.
Frontline border workers are the first to be vaccinated when the first 2 thousand 500 vaccines arrive in a few days times.
These are the most exposed workers to the threat of the pandemic virus in line with their job responsibilities.