Samoa’s Director General of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri says Samoa’s health port protocols are air tight, and there is no need to panic amidst reports about the positive COVID-19 tests in American Samoa.
The Fesco Askold was in Apia for one day before it traveled to Pago Pago.
Samoa Global News quotes Director General of Health Leausa Dr Naseri saying he received a phone call late last night from DOH’s Dr Aifili John Tufa to confirm the positive test results on three Fesco Askold crew members.
“I asked if the crew actually come off the ship and he said no”.
Leausa explained that Samoa has developed and followed a well coordinated process of health Port protocols strictly followed by authorities at the Apia Port during shipment offloads.
“The area is sealed off and closely monitored by Police, Quarantine, and Health officials and there is no contact with any crew member…”
He said protocols require that crew members are isolated on the vessel, and noone comes off or makes contact with anyone…”
Leausa stated the risk for Samoa is mitigated by this stringent process where nobody gets off the ship, and the few officials involved are in full PPE – Personal Protection Equipment.
“The crew on board are even required to quarantine in an area of the ship and there is only one crew member who stands on board the vessel from a distance to oversee the offload process”.
According to the Director General of Health, Samoa’s protocol focuses on testing before individuals are released into the public, but do not board to test crew members on board cargo ships.
“We do not risk health care workers by going onto vessels to test their crew”, Leausa said.
