NEOC: As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases remains at 15

This is the latest official information released since the Government implemented the 48 hours lockdown.

“The Ministry of Health Continues to do its best in protecting Samoa.

As of Sunday, the 15 COVID19 positive cases are closely monitored in isolation and are cared for.

“These cases were passengers who travelled from Brisbane, Australia on a flight that arrived at Faleolo Airport on Wednesday, 19th January 2022. All of them are being quarantined.

“The rest of the passengers are also in quarantine and their most recentpolymerase (puh·li·muh·rayz) chain reaction test conducted on Friday returned negative,” the statement reads.

Furthermore all frontline workers who serviced the flight have been quarantined as of yesterday and their first PCR tests also returned negative.

The Government says that Samoa remains at Alert Level 3 with a nationwide lockdown in effect until 6.00pm on Monday, 24th January 2022.

“The State of Emergency Order promulgated by the Head of State was released yesterday.”

The Ministry of Health also used the opportunity to urge the public to get they COVID-19 vaccinations.

They reminded the public the Spanish flu that struck Samoa in 1918 and we experienced one of the worst hit global pandemic.

The total number of deaths attributable to influenza was later estimated as 8,500, or 22% of the population.

A 1947 United Nations report, says it was ‘one of the most disastrous epidemics recorded at that time.

The World Health Organization says to date, 349 million people were effected by the COVID-19 and recorded deaths is close to 6 million people; with America leading with the most deaths of more 900,000 people.

In December 2019, the WHO China Country Office was informed of cases of pneumonia unknown etiology (unknown cause) detected in Wuhan City, and three days later a total of 44 case-patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology were reported to WHO by the national authorities in China.

According to WHO on 12 January 2020, they received further detailed information from the National Health Commission China that the outbreak is associated with exposures in one seafood market in Wuhan City. • The Chinese authorities identified a new type of coronavirus, which was isolated on 7 January 2020, it has given birth to of the major variants, the Delta and Omicron Variant.