Healthcare community continues to call for masking and social distancing

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With a second surge of the community spread of COVID-19 now confirmed, the Health Department began public service announcements this week reminding the public to — among other things — mask up and social distance, as COVID is still present in the territory with new sub-variants identified on island.

At Tuesday’s COVID-19 Task Force weekly briefing, DoH Clinical Service director Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao announced that the territory has “reached our second surge, which is now starting to taper off and decrease,” according to ASG officials who attended the briefing.

Lauvao made the statement when presenting DoH’s latest COVID-19 report for the week of July 11 to July 17, which shows that of the 3,915 individuals testing at LBJ Medical Center and DoH clinics 317 came back positive. This compares to the previous week of 344 new positives.

As the second surge tapers off, DoH recommends continuing with the current proactive stance at Level 1 (Yellow) alert, which is activated when new cases are fewer than 100 — in the double digits — on a daily basis.

DoH again presented to the task force — as it did last week — its “COVID-19 Second Surge Response Plan”. Under Plan A, DoH adopts three levels of alert in relation to a second surge of the COVID-19 outbreak. “These alert levels are predicated upon the total number of cases to the potential worst case of widespread community transmission,” according to DoH documents.

Key components of the Level 1 alert, according to DoH documents are:

•           Strongly recommend eligible individuals to be fully vaccinated with 2 dose schedule vaccines with first and second boosters;

•           Strongly recommend masking for all individuals; and

•           Continue supervised isolation at the Airport Hangar for travelers testing positive on arrival at Ports of Entry into American Samoa.

There was a call by Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale during the task force briefing for the community to mask up and social distance especially while at indoor public places.

Early this week, DoH issued a new public service announcement reminding residents that COVID-19 is still spreading in the territory based on testing at LBJ Medical Center and DoH clinics.

“It has been confirmed that Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 are now spreading in our community,” the announcement says and noted that although evidence suggests these variants do not cause more severe disease or death, they spread much faster than previous variants and can possibly re-infect those who were previously sick with COVID-19 or are fully vaccinated.

The public is strongly advised to STAY HOME and isolate when feeling sick. Visit the nearest health clinic to get tested and treated. Continue to practice preventive measures such as wearing a mask when in public places, social distance and frequently wash your hands.

COVID vaccinations and boosters are available at the DOH clinics across Tutuila and Manu’a.

“Vaccines/Boosters don’t guarantee you will not be infected with COVID, but evidence shows they are able to help prevent hospitalizations due to severe illness or even death,” it says.

For more questions contact DoH at 219.

TALOFAPASS

One of the issues raised by task force member Faipule Andra T. Samoa is the ASG TALOFAPass websystem, which screens all entries into the territory, saying that there are faipule who have concerns with TALOFAPass. And there will be an opportunity for TALOFAPass or Data House for discussion with lawmakers.

Task force chair, Lt. Gov. Talauega responded that he hopes discussions will better explain the usefulness of TALOFAPass.

Secretary of Samoan Affairs, Mauga T. Asuega, who gave final remarks at the meeting, noted that many have approached him for an easier way to utilize TALOFAPass, especially the elderly and those who get “stuck in Hawaii,” according to ASG officials who attended the briefing.

As previously reported by Samoa News, TALOFAPass is already the subject of planned hearings in both the Senate and House in the coming days.

All travelers to American Samoa are required to register on TALOFAPass, which also screens travelers needing wheel chairs, human remains brought into the territory, service animals and even firearms.

Information presented at the task force meeting shows that 5 firearms were registered on TALOFAPass to be brought into the territory on last night’s Hawaiian Airlines’ flight.

Local Homeland Security director, Samana Semo Ve’ave’a noted concerns about firearms and asked that all required and proper documents are presented upon arrival.