American Samoa

The Health Department reported last night that confirm cases stand at 63.

The federal team, which will number more than 50, will include representatives of FEMA, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal partners.

The Health Department's Dr Aifili John Tufa said the request for assistance was made right after the first community case was recorded on Monday.

The team will help with vaccinations, treatment of Covid-cases at the Department of Health clinics, training and help supplement medical staff.

A health worker contracted Covid-19 and then infected his family who are based in Leone who attended several gatherings over the weekend including church.

American Samoa is in Code Red - meaning people must stay home, be vaccinated, wear masks and only essential services are open.

RNZ Pacific Correspondent in Monica Miller said there was a lot of panic buying when people found out Monday night.

Churches, village organizations, civic groups, businesses and individuals showed their alofa (love) throughout the day, heeding an appeal by Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga to help "our brothers and sisters, mothers, fathers and children now trying to get by after the devastation and loss caused by the volcanic eruption and tsunami."

Governor Lemanu had also asked all government employees to contribute to the administration's fundraising drive for Tonga.

179 travellers arrived on the January 6 Hawaiian Airlines flight.

Health officials suspect that some of the travellers may have contracted the omicron variant.

Deputy Director of Health Vesi Fautanu said all were removed from the quarantine sites and taken to the alternate care facility in Tafuna., where they are to be quarantined for an extra 14 days.

He said all are fully vaccinated and are doing well.

The four were killed in front of the StarKist Samoa plant.

The Department of Public Safety has requested the Attorney General's office for autopsies of the four men.

Attorney General Fainuulelei Ala'ilima Utu told KHJ News that based on the request from police, his office has asked LBJ Hospital for autopsies of Faasaulala Ahoni, Taumaoe Filipo, Ierome Vili and Alatina Faleasi.

American Samoa's Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua says the traveller was asymptomatic.

Motusa told KHJ News the all other travellers have yielded negative results.

This is the 11th positive covid test result detected in quarantine since American Samoa resumed commercial flights from Honolulu three months ago.

All of the confirmed cases have been asymptomatic.

The December 6 flight was Hawaiian Airlines' last commercial flight for the year.

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KHJ News received confirmation from Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua that a traveller yielded a positive result for coronavirus from the tests conducted on the 3rd day after arrival.

The individual was the only person who tested positive among the 262 travellers who were in quarantine.

The individual has been moved to isolation.

The Department of Health has ruled out that the person is a historical case.

As with the first four imported positive coronavirus cases, the person was fully vaccinated and is asymptomatic.

The positive case was a passenger who arrived on the September 13 flight from Hawaii according to Department of health officials.

The passenger is now in isolation for 14-days for observation and additional tests.

This was confirmed by the territory's acting governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale, during a press conference, where he was surrounded by health officials.

Territorial health officials are waiting for official permission from the US Postal Service to enter the facility for inspection and address the infestation.

Samoa News reports that the rat problem was raised during a House Health Committee hearing.

A local lawmaker, Luaitaua Gene Pan, told the hearing that every time he goes to the Post Office to pick up his mail, the Post Master or other senior officials approach him and ask for assistance with the problem of the many rats living inside the building.

The four are now under the care of state health officials along with one person who may have been exposed to them.

All have been removed from the hotel in Honolulu.

The information was revealed at a press conference with Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and members of the Covid 19 Task Force, led by Lieutenant Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale.

Health Director Motusa Tuileama Nua said those who tested positive were members of a family who had travelled from the mainland.