COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa

COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationSamoa
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Arrival date18 November 2020[1] (1 year, 3 months and 1 day ago)
Confirmed cases26[2][3]
Active cases23[2]
Suspected cases‡0
Recovered3[2]
Deaths
0[2][3]
Government website
Samoan Health Ministry's COVID-19 webpage
‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Samoa on 18 November 2020.[1] The country reported its second case on 27 November.[4]

In January 2022, Samoa reported several cases in managed isolation among passengers from an Australian repatriation flight, reaching a total of 26 cases by 25 January.[5][6] In response, the Samoan Government imposed a nationwide lockdown, which was subsequently extended on 25 January 2022.[7]

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[8][9]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[10][11] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[12][10]

Timeline

Cases
Cases
Deaths
Deaths

January 2020

Travel into Samoa has been increasingly restricted in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 into the country. Before entering the country, people must have spent at least 14 days in a country free of the virus, as well as complete a medical clearance.[13] On 27 January 2020, the Government of Samoa ordered all travellers entering Samoa to fill in a Special Health Declaration form. The Government also required mainland Chinese travelers to self-isolate themselves for 14 days and discouraged travel to China or other countries affected by COVID-19 virus.[14]

Two Samoan nationals who had briefly stopped in China were placed into quarantine on 28 January for two weeks at the Faleolo District Hospital.[15][16]

February 2020

On 3 February 2020, four Samoan nationals (three students and a former student) were evacuated from Wuhan aboard a chartered Air New Zealand flight with assistance from New Zealand, Australia, and the Chinese authorities.[17]

On 9 February, eight Samoan nationals travelling from India via Singapore and Fiji were denied entry into Samoa and sent back to Fiji. The Samoan authorities had designated Singapore a high risk country due to the surge in cases there. These Samoans were housed at a hotel in Nadi, Fiji and not allowed to return to Samoa until the next weekend.[18]

On 22 February, Samoa banned all cruise ships from visiting the country.[19] On 29 February, the government announced restrictions on air travel, with the frequency of international flights into Samoa being reduced from 2 March.[20]

March 2020

On 18 March, Samoa reported its first suspected case of the coronavirus, an individual who had traveled from New Zealand. Bodily samples from the person were taken to Melbourne for testing.[21] The patient was placed into isolation at Apia's Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital. Samples have been sent to Melbourne for testing, which can take 10-20 working days to return.[22][23] In response, the Samoan Government required all travelers including Samoan citizens to undergo a medical checkup upon returning.[24] On 20 March, Samoa declared a state of emergency, closing its borders to all but returning citizens.[25]

On 21 March, the Samoan Health Ministry confirmed that eight suspected cases of the coronavirus were being tested. All of these individuals had a prior history of travel or contact with relatives who traveled abroad.[26][27] On 22 March, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi announced that the first suspected case of COVID-19 had been cleared of the virus. While he confirmed that six of the eight suspected cases had tested negative for the coronavirus, they were still awaiting test results for the remaining two patients from New Zealand.[28] That same day, Samoa also suspended air travel with Australia and restricted flights from New Zealand.[29]

On 24 March, it was reported that a total of seven suspected cases of the coronavirus were awaiting testing in New Zealand.[30]

On 25 March, Malielegaoi announced that individuals that did not adhere to the COVID-19 restriction will be fined.[31] On 26 March, the Samoan Government introduced lockdown measures including banning fishing boats from entering Samoa and fining businesses that breached the quarantine. Only cargo ships carrying goods and petrol will be allowed to enter Samoa.[32]

April 2020

On 11 April, the Samoan Government passed a US$23.6 million relief package to help the country's hotel sector, which had been forced to lay-off 500 hotel workers by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.[33] On 15 April, the Samoan Government eased some state of emergency restrictions including reopening inter-islander maritime travel and public transportation with restrictions on operating hours and passengers. Restaurants and markets were allowed to reopen with limited hours. However, social distancing rules and other emergency restrictions remained in force.[34]

On 20 April, Radio New Zealand reported that nearly 300 had been arrested in Samoa for violating the "Covid-19 State of Emergency Orders", which came into force on 21 March.[35] On 14 May, Malielegaoi ruled out the New Zealand Government's proposal for a "Pacific travel bubble" due to the unwillingness of Canberra and Wellington to test travelers and fears of a resurgence of the 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa.[36][37]

June 2020

On 10 June, Prime Minister Malielegaoi announced the relaxation of lockdown restrictions on religious services, street vendors, weddings, and village matai councils. Street vendors will only be allowed to sell fruits, vegetables, cooked food and certain textiles while selling on footpaths will remain prohibited. Churches must practise two-meters social distancing but major events such as church conferences and national meetings remain prohibited. The new State of Emergency rules also allowed weddings in hotels but limited the guest list to 50 people. Market activities, beach and river excursions are banned on Sunday. There remains a five-person limit on funerals, traditional title bestowals, birthdays, reunions, and opening ceremonies for building.[38]

November 2020

Following the detection of three new cases in American Samoa resulting from sea travel, Samoan authorities have launched an investigation into whether the three infected individuals had disembarked from their container ship Fesco Askold which had docked in Apia's port over the weekend.[39]

On 18 November, Samoa confirmed its first potential case: a sailor who had returned from Auckland, New Zealand the previous week. The sailor had undergone managed isolation. He had tested positive the previous night but subsequently tested negative during a second test. He was cared for at an isolation ward in Tupua Tamasese Motootua Hospital.[1][40] The sailor subsequently tested negative for COVID-19 during a third nasal swab test and remained under observation. He was part of a contingent of 27 Samoan sailors who had working with the Mediterranean Shipping Company in Europe. The sailors were part of a contingent of 247 passengers who had been repatriated to Samoa on a chartered Air New Zealand flight.[41]

On 24 November, Samoa extended its quarantine period from 14 to 21 days as a result of a spike in COVID-19 cases in California.[42]

On 27 November, Samoa reported its second case in managed isolation, a 70-year-old man who had traveled from Melbourne and Auckland to Apia on the same flight as the first suspected case.[4] It is possible both cases were simply detection of viral fragments from non-contagious historical cases as neither case had symptoms and their close contacts tested negative.[43]

December 2020

On 29 December, Samoa banned travellers from the United Kingdom and South Africa under a new amended travel advisory for repatriation flights. This in response to a discovery of variants of the coronavirus VOC 2020/12/01 and 501.V2 variant which appears to be more contagious than previous variants.[44]

February 2021

A third positive PCR test was returned on 12 February 2021.[45]

March 2021

On 24 March 2021, Dr Take Naseri, the Director-General of Health, confirmed that individuals 18 years old and over would receive the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. However, those aged 85 years and over and with terminal illnesses would not be vaccinated. Samoa had received 79,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses with the assistance of New Zealand.[46]

May 2021

In early May 2021, Dr Naseri confirmed that Samoa would reopen its borders once 98% of the population had been vaccinated. By 8 May, 10,911 individuals (roughly seven percent of the population) had been vaccinated. A further 55,000 vaccines were expected to reach Samoa in June 2021. Samoan health authorities were in negotiation with New Zealand to procure more AstraZeneca vaccine doses.[47]

August 2021

On 11 August, Samoa Health authorities launched a country-wide door-to-door mass vaccination campaign. The National Emergency Operations Committee also announced that more than half of the eligible population had received their first dose and 22 percent had been fully vaccinated.[48]

File:COVID-19 Equipment donated to Samoa in 2022

January 2022

The Scientific Research Organization of Samoa received new equipment to aid in diagnosis. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had dispatched equipment to countries around the world to enable them to use a nuclear-derived technique to rapidly detect the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and Samoa was on the list.[49]

On 20 January, Samoa reported ten cases in managed isolation, who had arrived on a Qantas charter flight from Brisbane in Australia. The youngest individual was an 11 month old baby while the oldest individual was 63 years old. Nine passengers were identified as close contacts of the positive cases and went into isolation.[5][50] In response, the Samoan Government postponed a repatriation flight from New Zealand that was scheduled to depart on 22 January.[5]

By 22 January, the number of COVID-19 positive cases aboard the flight had risen to 15. In response, the Samoan Government imposed a 48-hour lockdown on the country from 6pm on Friday (21 January) to Monday (24 January). Under this state of emergency, all residents except for essential workers were required to stay at home and avoid the roads. Businesses, schools and restaurants were closed while travel and mass gatherings were banned. The Samoan Government also warned that lockdown violators could be fined $2,000.[51][52]

On 25 January, Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa extended the nationwide lockdown until the night of 27th January after five frontline nurses caring for the infected 15 passengers tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, the Government allowed certain businesses and services including petrol and cashpower outlets, banks, money transfer services, and chemists to open for limited hours between 8am and 2 pm. The Samoa National Emergency Operations Centre's (ECO) chairperson Agafili Shem Leo also confirmed that authorities were investigating rumors that some passengers aboard the Qantas flight were planning to attend a funeral in Samoa.[7] That same day, the Samoan Ministry of Health confirmed 11 new cases in managed isolation, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 26.[6]

On 27 January, Samoa reported one new case, bringing the total number of confirmed case to 27. This case was a passenger from the previous week's flight from Brisbane.[53]

On 29 January, Fiame announced that the country's nationwide lockdown would be lifted due to a lack of COVID-19 community transmissions. Workplaces and businesses will be allowed to reopen while public gatherings will be limited to 30 people. Only cargo flights will be allowed in and out of Samoa.[54]

On 30 January, three new border cases were reported including a four year old child in quarantine; bringing the total number of positive cases to 30. Samoa remained on Alert Level 2, having emerged from the nationwide lockdown.[55]

February 2022

On 2 February, the Samoan government confirmed that a managed isolation breach occurred when a nurse and government driver left a managed isolation facility to visit an automatic transfer machine. The Samoan government also confirmed that a nurse had tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases in managed isolation to 31.[56]

Statistics

New cases per day

See also

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "Reports Samoa has its first case of Covid-19". 1 News. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
    2. 1 2 3 4 "COVID-19 Coronavirus - Update". Virusncov.com. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    3. 1 2 "Samoa: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data". World Health Organization. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
    4. 1 2 Hutt, Kendall (27 November 2020). "COVID-19: Samoa reports second case of coronavirus, man on same flight as first case". Stuff. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
    5. 1 2 3 Mayron, Sapeer (20 January 2022). "Samoa records 10 Covid-19 cases in quarantine, largest ever from one flight". Stuff. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    6. 1 2 Jacobson, Adam (25 January 2022). "Covid-19: Samoa reports 11 new cases, bringing total to 26". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    7. 1 2 "Samoa extends Covid-19 lockdown another 72 hours". Radio New Zealand. 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    8. ↑ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
    9. ↑ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
    10. 1 2 "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
    11. ↑ "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
    12. ↑ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
    13. ↑ Wilson, Soli (26 January 2020). "Coronavirus screening mandatory for visitors to Samoa". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
    14. ↑ Tamaalii, Funefe'ai (27 January 2020). "TRAVEL ADVISORY & RESTRICTIONS IN RELATION TO THE 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (2019-nCoV)". Government of Samoa. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
    15. ↑ "Two men in quarantine in Samoa over coronavirus fears". Radio New Zealand. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
    16. ↑ "Two men in quarantine in Samoa over virus fears". The New Zealand Herald. 27 January 2020. ISSN 1170-0777. Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
    17. ↑ Tamaalii, Funefe'ai Dikaiosune Atoa (5 February 2020). "Samoan students in Wuhan, China – Government of Samoa". Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
    18. ↑ Dreaver, Barbara (15 February 2020). "Samoan coronavirus restrictions see eight citizens refused entry after flying through Singapore". 1 News. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
    19. ↑ "Samoa places blanket ban on cruise ship visits". Radio New Zealand. 22 February 2020. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
    20. ↑ "Special health travel advisory in relation to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)". Government of Samoa. 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
    21. ↑ Tamaaliii, Funefe'ai (18 March 2020). "Ministry of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 18/03/2020". Government of Samoa. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
    22. ↑ "Coronavirus: 10–20 day wait for Samoa test result". Radio New Zealand. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
    23. ↑ "Coronavirus: Samoa's first suspected case arrived on a flight from Auckland". Stuff. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
    24. ↑ Tamaalii, Funefe'ia (18 March 2020). "UPDATED TRAVEL ADVISORY NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-2019)". Government of Samoa. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
    25. ↑ "Tonga and Samoa declare states of emergency because of Covid-19". Radio New Zealand. 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
    26. ↑ "Eight suspected cases of coronavirus under investigation in Samoa". 1 News. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
    27. ↑ Kerr, Florence (21 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Samoa tests eight suspected cases of Covid-19". Stuff. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
    28. ↑ "Test for suspected Covid-19 case in Samoa comes back negative". Radio New Zealand. 22 March 2020. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
    29. ↑ Kerr, Florence (22 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Samoa suspends all flights from Australia". Stuff. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
    30. ↑ "Samoa waits for seven COVID-19 tests". Radio New Zealand. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
    31. ↑ "Samoa to fine people who don't adhere to Covid-19 restrictions". Radio New Zealand. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
    32. ↑ "Samoa officially on lock down". Radio New Zealand. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
    33. ↑ "Further plea for help as 50 hotels close in Samoa and hundreds jobless". Radio New Zealand. 12 April 2020. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
    34. ↑ "Samoa eases some state of emergency restrictions". Radio New Zealand. 15 April 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
    35. ↑ "Close to 300 arrested in Samoa for breaking Covid-19 orders". Radio New Zealand. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
    36. ↑ "Reservations about reopening borders - Samoa PM". Radio New Zealand. 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
    37. ↑ "Samoa dismisses 'Pacific travel bubble' as NZ won't pre-test travellers". 1 News. 13 May 2020. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
    38. ↑ "Samoa further relaxes Covid-19 restrictions". Radio New Zealand. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
    39. ↑ "Covid 19 coronavirus: Samoan officials on alert after three sailors test positive". The New Zealand Herald. 10 November 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
    40. ↑ "Samoa records first positive Covid test result". Radio New Zealand. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
    41. ↑ Williams, Katarina; MacManus, Joel (19 November 2020). "Samoa's first Covid-19 case tests negative in follow-up exam". Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
    42. ↑ "Samoa raises quarantine period". Radio New Zealand. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
    43. ↑ "Samoa records its first Covid-19 case – imported from Australia". The Guardian. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
    44. ↑ "Samoa new travel advice stops UK and South Africa travellers". RNZ. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
    45. ↑ "Samoa records a Covid-19 case at the border". RNZ. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
    46. ↑ "Samoa lays out Covid-19 vaccine plan". Radio New Zealand. 24 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 March 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
    47. ↑ "Samoa sets vaccination target for re-opening border". Radio New Zealand. 8 May 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
    48. ↑ "Samoa launches door-to-door covid vax-drive". RNZ. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
    49. ↑ IAEA Imagebank (12 January 2022), COVID-19 Equipment to Samoa (05890400), retrieved 13 January 2022
    50. ↑ Ariu, Eirenei (20 January 2022). "PRESS RELEASE / 10 POSITIVE COVID19 CASES FROM BRISBANE CONFIRMED". Samoan Government. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    51. ↑ Treisman, Rachel (22 January 2022). "Kiribati and Samoa implement rare lockdowns after travelers test positive". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    52. ↑ "Samoa announces lockdown from 6pm tonight until 6pm on Monday". Radio New Zealand. 22 January 2022. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
    53. ↑ "Samoa confirms one more positive Covid-19 case". Radio New Zealand. 27 January 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
    54. ↑ "Samoa's PM confirms no community transmission as lockdown lifted". Radio New Zealand. 29 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
    55. ↑ "Three new border cases confirmed in Samoa's latest Covid-19 outbreak". Radio New Zealand. 30 January 2022. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
    56. ↑ Feagaimaali'i, Joyetter (2 February 2022). "Samoa govt confirms MIQ breach as another positive case recorded". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
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