The National Operation Committee has confirmed a total of 10 new COVID-19 cases in the Country are now in isolation including nine other people who have been in contact with the passengers tested positive.
Director General Leausa Dr Take Naseri says the passengers were on the yesterday's repatriation flight from Australia that arrived in the afternoon carrying 73 passengers.
He said four women and six men who were tested positive for COVID-19, including an 11 month old baby.
The 10 people tested positive are isolated at the national hospital and the other nine people who are in contact with people that were tested positive have also been in isolation at the Faleolo clinic.
He said the next available flight will take the testings to New Zealand to determine which variant. In the meantime, Leausa says they suspect its the Omicron variant, which is easily transmissible.
According to the Director General of Health, the hospital’s normal services and operations will not be affected, adding that there is no evidence of community transmission.
“We are confident right now there is no community transmission and we will continue to monitor the quarantine sites and all isolations."
Leausa said all the passengers that arrived on Wednesday adhered to the travel advisories as well as Health requirements and that all the passengers are permanent residents.
During the press conference, Leausa explained that close to 300 passengers were supposed to be on the flight however only 73 passengers adhered to the health requirements and the rest were bumped off.
Chairman of the NEOC, Agafili Shem Leo says that Samoa remains at Level 1.
He also noted, Cabinet has canceled the next repatriation flight coming from New Zealand.
