The Department of Health has sent off island for testing a swab from a woman who is being quarantined at home.
The woman, a local resident, had traveled to New Zealand then spent 14 days in quarantine in Samoa before arriving here on March 14th.
Department of Health Epidemiologist Aifili Dr. John Tufa said two days before she traveled to American Samoa she developed a cough and a slight fever which was “not noticeable”.
She was given a three day health clearance by the Samoa Ministry of Health then traveled here.
A few days later she started having breathing problems and called the Department of Health.
Dr. Tufa said a team went to her home and assessed her condition and after consultations with LBJ Hospital it was determined that she didn’t need hospitalization.
However,she was isolated at home and DOH teams have been visiting her every day.
Dr. Tufa explained that the woman and her entire family have been in isolation at home and she is recovering well.
Her self isolation should be complete in a few days.
Meantime, DOH has sent a swab from the woman to CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, for Coronavirus testing.
The test swab was sent on last Thursday’s flight. Upon arrival in Honolulu it was repackaged and sent to Atlanta.
Dr. Tufa says the test results should be known in 3-7 days after it arrives at the CDC headquarters.
Another two swabs will be sent on this Thursday’s flight and DOH is hoping that a lab in Honolulu will conduct the COVID-19 test there.
Dr. Tufa says if the Honolulu lab refuses to carry out the test because it’s also inundated with Hawaii’s own testing, then the swabs will have to be forwarded to Atlanta.
These two cases are also women – a traveler from Seattle and a local who was exposed to a traveler from the same area at a funeral.
DOH is receiving a lot of calls from people who have flu like symptoms.
Symptoms of COVID-19 are a fever, dry cough and breathing difficulty.
If you have these three symptoms, do not go to the hospital or health clinic. Immediately call the hotline 633-5871/5872 and DOH will come to your house for an assessment.
