Samoa’s two positive cases of coronavirus have been declared as “non infectious.”
The two are a 23 year-old Samoan sailor who had been working in Italy and a 70 year-old Samoan man who had been in Australia.
The two were on the same flight two weeks ago and both had contracted the virus in the countries they were in. The sailor had been sick with the virus in May and the older gentleman had it in August.
Both showed negative and positive results for coronavirus when they were tested in Samoa.
Blood samples for the two were sent to New Zealand last Friday and according to Samoa’s Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, the results show that the virus detected in men’s bodies were at the low end of the viral count, they are non infectious and incapable of spreading in their bodies and to others.
Leausa announced the results at a press conference with the Acting Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Committee Agafili Shem Leo this afternoon,
He told media that for such cases in other countries, the individuals would be released to go home and self isolate. However they will keep the two individuals, and the rest of the 274 passengers that were on the same flight, in quarantine for an additional 7 days.
Leausa said all frontline workers at the airport including health staff, police and airport workers have been tested for coronavirus and all are clear of the virus.
NEOC Acting Chairman Agafili urged the public to follow advice for the yellow alert level such as wearing masks, social distancing and practicing good hygiene.
