The rising number of positive cases in the Apia town area and nearby districts in Upolu confirm they've become COVID-19 hotspots which is leading to the spread of the virus within the communities.

This was revealed by the Acting Director General of Health, Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen on Saturday during a virtual press conference. 

While the COVID-19 virus has spread rapidly in Samoa with over a thousand cases, the urban area and some of the districts on the West coast of Upolu have been singled out as having the highest number of positive cases recorded. 

Tagaloa said out of the highest number of people who are testing positive “a lot are from Apia.”

 “As of this time, there is no area in our country that the virus has not reached when we look at the numbers [data],” he said. “But the majority [of cases] are from the Apia area according to our data collected.” 

The Acting Director General of Health also revealed that other areas recording high number of positive cases are from the districts of Vaimauga, Faleata, Aana and Sagaga in Upolu. 

“It is also the districts of Vaimauga, Faleata leading to Sagaga and Aana that have a high number of cases that we have identified."

The islands of Manono and Apolima remain to be COVID-19 free with no cases recorded so far. 

“We have observed that a high number of those infected [with COVID-19] are from the ages of 15 to 30 or 35, followed by those aged 40 and above.

“And we have also recorded children under the age of 5 who have tested positive to COVID-19. 

"A lot of them are in home isolation and some are isolating on site within some villages but as of this moment, they have reported to be strong.”

Tagaloa then set the record straight that no one is severely affected by the virus.

“It is just that the symptoms of the virus are quite strong for some of those who have tested positive and they are in isolation, but they are currently experiencing moderate symptoms.”

So far, Samoa has recorded a total of 1,057 community cases since 17 March, 2022. A total of 1,040 are active cases as of 26 March, 2022 with more cases recorded in Upolu compared to Savai'i.

Samoa continues to be under Alert Level 3 and a nationwide lockdown to try and minimise the spread of the COVID-19 virus.