COVID virus has spread to Ofu with two initial cases reported

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Community spread of COVID-19 has now reached Ofu Island in Manu’a, while American Samoa’s total cumulative count of the deadly virus has surpassed the 6,000 mark, according to the Health Department’s COVID-19 Situational Report as of May 16.

Even before DoH reported the latest cases in Manu’a to the COVID-19 Task Force on Tuesday, postings on social media on Monday night revealed that the virus had reached Ofu Island, whose residents contacted others on Tutuila and off-island about it.

The DoH reports shows that 16 new positives were confirmed on May 16 — and includes the two cases on Ofu Island and seven new cases on Ta’u island. The report shows that total COVID-19 related deaths remains at 30 — and this is also confirmed by the separate LBJ Medical Center report to the task force.

The new positives bring American Samoa’s cumulative total to 6,004 since the outbreak was first reported Feb. 21 on Tutuila. At the time of the report, DoH was monitoring 109 active cases — which includes 21 active cases in the Manu’a Island group, according to the DoH report.

Since the outbreak was first reported on Ta’u island last month, total cumulative count for the Manu’a island group stands at 56 — with 33 at Faleasao village, 21 at Ta’u village and the new two cases at the island of Ofu.

So far, Olosega Island in Manu’a remains COVID-free.

Meanwhile, Health Director Motusa Tuileama Nua said during Monday’s task force virtual news conference, that the department continues to monitor the surge of cases in Manu’a and hopes that the number of active cases would come down to a single digit.

“Once that happens, we will assess what’s going on in Manu’a and then request commercial flights for Manu’a to resume and we hope to allow that on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays — and allow Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for inter Samoa flights,” said Motusa.

Since the COVID surge, he said there have been no commercial flights for Manu’a as most of the flights were charted by DoH for funerals, ASG personnel and transfers of emergency cases from the island group to Tutuila.

(Samoa News notes that the MV Manu’atele has been able to carry passengers as well as cargo to and from Manu’a.)

Motusa said DoH is also keeping a watch on the MV Lady Naomi on its inter Samoa sail for cargo only.

The Lady Naomi resumed its weekly cargo service two weeks ago on Thursdays while Samoa Airways is providing passenger services between Apia and Pago Pago.

This Health Department chart shows the active COVID-19 cases and the number in each village as of May 16.