The Director General of Health, Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma says there are more COVID-19 cases amongst the public as research by one of their laboratories has uncovered that Rapid Antigen Test (R.A.T.) tests underestimates the positivity of the virus.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Aiono said it is one of the interesting results of the research the Ministry is conducting and there is a great possibility that there could be more positive cases in the country other than the numbers confirmed through the tests.

"It’s quite interesting today that we heard some research that was done by our other laboratory that has shown that our R.A.D. tests necessarily used, not generally ours, actually underestimates the positivity of COVID-19," he said.

"So if we say that there’s 10 positive cases from  it doesn’t mean that there’s 10, it could be more than that because the R.A.T. tests actually underestimate."

A week ago, Aiono confirmed that there are six new positive cases of COVID-19 in Samoa and have been advised to isolate and apply symptomatic treatment.

The latest syndromic surveillance and covid-19 update released on Wednesday revealed one more positive COVID-19 case.

Aiono in a previous interview stressed that screenings had always been in place at the border and if the spread is faster and concerning then the Cabinet will be advised.

"We have another six cases since we started testing on Monday. No one has been admitted and they were advised to go into isolation," he stated.

"Testing in all hospitals will continue until 9 December to determine incidence rates. We will advise the government through our Minister if there is a concern.

"We have always had screening at the border. That is the role of our Port Health team. The form you complete before the plane lands is a health screen. We have introduced temperature scanning screening."

Meanwhile, Rapid Antigen Testing is being administered in all hospitals and health centres for symptomatic cases to determine the incidence of the disease.

Aiono explained that if the numbers of positive cases become concerning, the Ministry will resort to carrying out tests at the airport.

Aiono was asked  if compulsory testing would be practiced at the airport and at the hospital as it was before, he said only if the numbers are worryingly high.

"If the numbers are worrying, then we have a case to test at the airport. It is senseless disrupting airport operations with mandatory testing when most are well. But if high numbers come through our current testing of unwell people, then we know we have a case to do this at the airport," he explained.