By Staff Writer
Heart attack and not COVID-19 is the general medical opinion in the death of a repatriated RSE worker, after his release from compulsory quarantine two and a half weeks ago.
The 27-year-old male died last Saturday night, 15 August 2020, at the Leulumoega-fou Hospital.
His death sparked a social media frenzy that raised public alarm at reports that he died from the feared coronavirus pandemic.
But the Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, is adamant that the deceased went through the whole quarantine system and a series of tests that turned out negative before he was cleared to go home.
Leausa re-affirmed in a press conference today that Samoa is still free of COVID-19 and there are no suspects either.
The Director General of Health felt that the social media reports worried the public because the deceased was repatriated from New Zealand to Samoa.
“He went through all the tests from the time he boarded the flight and on arrival on the 17 August until he was cleared and allowed to go home on the 31 August 2020,” Leausa made very clear.
He added that the deceased had no history health issues and was a strong young man.
“From a medical viewpoint, sudden deaths like these are mostly to do with the heart, but that can only be confirmed from a postmortem.”
Leausa disclosed, however, that a medical test of the body 24 hours since the person died also showed no COVID-19.
Uncovering the official cause of death, however, may take some time depending on finding a forensic pathologist to undertake the medical investigation.
Samoa is required by law to bring in a qualified pathologist from New Zealand or Australia to do the work.
But COVID-19 restrictions are not making the job of finding one as easy as in normal times.
“No one wants to come because of the pandemic and doctors are not immune to the coronavirus, so we’re trying to balance out the issue.”
Leausa is also wary of the continuing developments of the virus in New Zealand where direct person-to-person infections or community transmissions are no longer limited to South Auckland.
Repatriation flights are the only travel allowed, to fly home stranded Samoan travellers and essential workers like a pathologist if or when the can find one.
Regular cargo flights are also coming under health scrutiny at reports that it may also carry the virus.
Leausa is highly confident the deceased did not have the virus or die from it after retracing the whole health screening process he went through on his return.
Other that the offer of condolences to the family, Leausa also expressed concern at reports that they were being signaled out by neighbours and the general public.
There were serious criticisms as well for the ‘wannabe journalists’ on social media and the interest in breaking news at the expense of causing panic to the general public.
