By Staff Writer
The COVID 19 swab specimens sent by the Ministry of Health to New Zealand for verification has confirmed that Samoa was literally ‘right on the nose’ with its findings.
The popular analogy on accuracy showed the New Zealand test results mirrored the same findings by the local health team in Samoa.
The swab samples were taken from the nostrils of a young Samoan seafarer who returned more than a week ago from Italy where he was seamanship duties on an international shipping company.
He was at first tested positive but follow up tests came back negative. The swabs sent to New Zealand last Friday finally came through this afternoon.
Breaths were held all over the country as the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi made the official announcement before the local media.
“The New Zealand tests showed exactly the same results from our findings in Samoa,’ Tuilaepa told the local media.
“What that means is Samoa is back where it started before the swabs were sent on the flight last Friday to the laboratories in Wellington, NZ.”
Still uncertain whether the pandemic virus is in Samoa or not another attempt will be made this weekend for more tests.
“This time we are going to send a blood sample of the suspected seafarer’s blood this Friday. This is a different test from the swabs and we’ll again have to wait for the results next week.”
The attention has now switched to the direct flight from Los Angeles to Faleolo International Airport due to arrive this weekend, 28 Saturday 2020.
There are 290 passengers booked on the flight with about half of them seafarers who made their way from Europe to the US to make the direct trip home.
Cabinet is, however, undecided on whether to allow the flight to go ahead or not.
“Cabinet will meet again tomorrow (Wednesday) for a final decision.”
Until the new test results come through next week the State Of Emergency terms and conditions remain.
