DoH reports second death related to COVID over the weekend

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa has recorded its second COVID-19 related death, with the new fatality reported by LBJ Medical Center on Mar. 25. The first COVID related death was on Mar. 22.

The second-death is a female in her mid-fifties and has other pre-existing health conditions. No other information was immediately available — as the village and actual age of the deceased.
The Health Department’s daily COVID-19 report for Mar. 25 states that 265 individuals tested positive, and reported 1 new death related to COVID-19.

As of Mar. 25, the total cumulative COVID-19 case count is about 3,217, of which, a total of 438 individuals have recovered. There are about 2,779 active cases. A total of 7 individuals are currently hospitalized and there are 2 recorded deaths related to COVID-19.

“If you test positive and have one or more health conditions that increase your risk of becoming very sick, seek treatment as soon as possible,” said DoH.  

“If you test positive at home after using a self-test kit, please visit any of the testing sites to be re-tested and assessed for treatment. Please note, that official home directives and medical clearances are only issued if you were tested at one of the testing sites,” it says.

DOH PROVIDES PROTOCOLS FOR AT HOME COVID TEST KITS

In a recent notice, the Health Department explained the protocols for residents who test positive using an “at-home COVID-19 test kit”, which is being distributed by the federal government.

Commander Okamura of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S Health and Human Service confirmed during a virtual news conference two weeks ago that “every household in the United States including American Samoa can receive 4 test kits per round of order” which can be ordered online at (www.covidtest.gov).

He was responding to a media question on whether American Samoa residents qualifies for the at-home test kits after the White House announced that every home in the U.S is eligible to order two-sets of 4 free at-home tests.

According to the DoH notice, “if you tested positive with an at-home COVID-19 test kit, send a picture of the test results to - [email protected] - also include your phone number, your full name, your hospital number, date of birth and current address”.

 “Individuals who test positive using their home test kits are encouraged to come into any testing site to be seen by a doctor and assess if they need treatment,” said DoH in a statement this week.