Pio Siliga, Lalomanu district hospital’s first community case, tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday to confirm he is on a path to recovery 10 days after testing positive.

The father of two told the Samoa Observer that he underwent a COVID-19 test in the district hospital on Tuesday morning with his results coming back negative.

"Praise the lord for answering our prayers when I was sick because of his healing, my body has been made well," Pio said. "I also praise God for healing my spirit most of all.

"I don't want to thank only one person. I want to thank all those who remembered me in their prayers while I was fighting to survive COVID-19.”

Mr Siliga tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday 19 March, two days after the country’s first community case was reported at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital, after an American missionary who was scheduled to fly to the U.S. via Fiji returned positive results.

Having tested positive for the virus, health officials agreed for Mr Siliga to be quarantined at home in his village, after he requested that he wanted his 71-year-old mother and 2-year-old daughter to be with him.

His small brother, who is based in Apia, had to return home to take care of him and his family while he was down. The family members including his brother have all tested negative for the virus after tests by health officials.

Mr Siliga told this newspaper that his brother has returned to Apia to be with his family, due to his recovery from the virus. 

"My brother has gone back to Apia to look after his kids and I am very grateful to him for coming to look after us when I was ill," he said. 

His wife Elisabeth, who currently lives in Australia with their other daughter, told this newspaper that she was happy her husband has made a turn-around in terms of his recovery from COVID-19.

"I’d like to give thanks to our heavenly father and praise his name for his protection and continuous guidance upon him that he’s able to recover from COVID-19," she said.

Mrs Siliga also thanked her mother-in-law and brother-in-law as well as the support and prayers of families and friends.

"A big thank you to his brother and mum for their full support while he recovered," she said. "The constant support and our prayer warriors, whom we believe played a big part as well during his recovery, and also our families and friends from near and far.

"Just want to add more encouragement towards positive thoughts that our people will get through these tough times and keep the faith. 

“Don’t stress and stay home to stop the spread [of COVID-19 to keep others safe.”

Out of the couple’s two daughters, 2-year-old Matalena and 1-year-old Elizabeth, Matalena lives with her father and her younger sibling Elizabeth lives with their mother in Australia.

The presence of Matalena at home, while he was ill from COVID-19, affected Mr Siliga deeply as a father.

"I cried when she would cry out to hug me while I was ill but I could not, she just looked from outside the house,” Mr Siliga said. “Now I can hold my daughter again and that is a blessing we should never take for granted.”