Gov Lemanu announces first COVID death in the territory

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a special address delivered late morning on Wednesday in Samoan on KVZK-TV and streamed online, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga shared the sad news of the first COVID-19 related death in American Samoa since the community spread of the deadly virus began on Feb. 21.

The governor announced that a man passed away Tuesday, Mar. 22, from complications relating to COVID-19. He said that the individual already suffered from health issues, but adding on the deadly virus, resulted in the man’s passing.

The governor — who was joined by Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale and Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Mauga Tasi Asuega during brief address — expressed condolence to the grieving family.

He didn’t provide additional information about the deceased such as age, vaccination status, or the village he was from.

Lemanu urged the community to stay strong and not let the virus “control us” but “we take control” over the virus. He acknowledged the community spread of the virus has occurred as well as the first-death, despite government efforts to protect the public’s health.

At press time, the Emergency Operations Center had yet to release the daily Health Department COVID-19 information and count of COVID cases as of Mar. 22 - Tuesday.

But for Monday, Mar. 21, the DoH report said 367 individuals tested positive bringing the total cumulative COVID-19 case count to 1,932, of which a total of 242 individuals have recovered. There are currently 1,690 active cases.

Recovery is defined as 14 days having passed after testing positive for COVID19, and asymptomatic, said DoH.