There’s no change to the ban on inter-Samoa flights and the sailing of the Lady Naomi with the latest development on the two confirmed coronavirus cases in Samoa.
This is according to the Chairman of the Coronavirus Task Force Iulogologo Joseph Pereira.
He said, “Our borders with Samoa remains closed given the announcement of the confirmed cases and the potential spread. Flights and Lady Naomi voyages are suspended until further notice.”
Samoa’s Director General of Health Leausa Dr. Take Naseri said at a press conference yesterday that blood tests done in New Zealand of a 23 year-old sailor and a 70 year-old man who showed conflicting test results for coronavirus, show the virus detected in the men’s bodies were at the low end of the viral count. He told media the two cases are historical and deemed non-infectious, incapable of spreading not only in their bodies but to others.
Iulogologo had said previously that the CTF would await the New Zealand test results of Samoa’s two coronavirus cases before deciding about the flights and Lady Naomi.
Normally cannery workers, the majority of whom are from Samoa return home when the cannery shuts down for the holidays. StarKist Samoa’s last day of production is December 18. It’s unlikely that the employees will get to spend their holidays with families in Samoa this year.
Iulogologo said With the confirmed coronavirus cases in Samoa, “it would be risky for us to allow cannery workers to travel to Samoa for the holidays and then return given the implications on our resources and facilities.” He said every returning will have to be quarantined and he reminded, “our borders are currently closed as well.”
