Samoa has recorded a new positive COVID-19 case to bring the country's total to 31 active cases, the Government's Press Secretariat has advised.

The latest COVID-19 case is a local nurse who was working in a hospital isolation ward when she was infected by the virus according to a statement issued by the Press Secretariat on Wednesday. 

The local nurse was identified after her swab test came back positive following the completion of the sixth testing schedule on Tuesday implemented by the Ministry of Health.

“All other 48 passengers continue to test negative and are in good health,” reads the statement issued by the Press Secretariat.

“The 25 positive tested passengers are all asymptomatic and are in good health

“All frontline workers in quarantine continue to present negative test results, remain asymptomatic and in good health.

“Likewise the six nurses in the isolation unit, though positive, are asymptomatic and in good health.”

Furthermore, Press Secretariat advised that the cumulative total of confirmed cases recorded for Samoa since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, is now up to 33. 

The two imported COVID-19 cases identified in quarantine in 2021 have fully recovered. While the 25 imported cases that were identified in quarantine over the last 14 days are still in quarantine, all of them passengers on a 19 January 2022 charter flight from Brisbane, Australia.

“There are no community cases suspected or identified in the community," the Press Secretariat added. “There is also vigilant monitoring of breaches of the S.O.E. and in particular, the conditions of quarantine.”

On Tuesday a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft flew in 10,000 COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine doses in response to an appeal from the Samoa Government for more vaccines to support its vaccination rollout programme.

Local health authorities aim to vaccinate a larger proportion of the target population in order to achieve herd immunity while moving to the rolling out of booster shots to eligible members of the community. 

The Press Secretariat said Samoa is privileged to be well supported in its COVID-19 response by development partners through many different avenues: adequate vaccines supplies; the provision of equipment and related supplies for preventive health measures; testing capacity supplies; project grants; technical advisory services; training and consultations (conducted virtually).

"We acknowledge the support of all our partners; Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, United Kingdom, United Nations and specialised agencies, USA, and all those who have made significant contributions to the COVAX Facility," added the Press Secretariat. 

"We also thank all intergovernmental and regional organisations for facilitating services to ensure essential supplies reach countries in a timely manner.

"There is also special acknowledgement of all our frontline workers; our defence line in keeping COVID-19 out or at the border. 

"The public’s demonstration of perseverance and adherence to the conditions of lockdown is commendable."