Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The 15-member Health and Medical Task Force dispatched to the territory from the U.S. Health and Human Services (USDHSS) arrived on Sunday and have begun their work supporting LBJ Medical Center as the surge of the community spread of COVID-19 continues and has exceeded the 700 mark.

The Health Department report, issued yesterday states that on March 14, 163 individuals tested positive, with no deaths reported from LBJ Medical Center. It also says that overall total cumulative COVID-19 case count is at 718, from which a total of 65 individuals have recovered. There are currently 653 active cases.

Data in the DoH report, shows that Tafuna continues to have the highest number of cases, increasing to 147, followed by Nu’uuli 76, Pavaiai 54, Leone 52, Pago Pago 50 and Ili’ili 45.

FEDERAL BRIEFING

During Monday’s virtual news conference, Allison Pfaendler — leader of the U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) said the 15-member task force team includes 11 medical professionals — such as physicians, physicians assistants, nurses, medics and respiratory therapists.

She said the team would provide 24-hour coverage at LBJ hospital — with primary staff on the day-shift, when the Emergency Department is most active.

LBJ’s acting chief of staff, Dr. Akapusi Ledua expressed appreciation to the federal partners for the 15-member medical team, who began working on Monday in their respective departments.

And the team will work hand-in-hand with existing LBJ staff, providing support and assistance as well as “sharing their knowledge” with the hospital staff, Dr. Ledua said.

On other federal updates, Pfaendler said the 29-public health officers from the USDHHS — who arrived on Mar. 4 with other federal personnel — remain on island providing support and assistances to vaccination and treatment sites overseen by DoH.

However, she said that several federal team members from USDHSS, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers have completed their assignments and departed over the weekend.

For the FEMA staff, they continue to coordinate federal support with American Samoa counterparts and planning for those additional needs to help with federal reimbursement for eligible expenses, said Pfaendler.

 “The omicron variant of COVID-19 has impacted much of the world and we have to adapt to it. Some ways that you can adapt to omicron is you can get vaccinated and boosted,” she said.  “Getting boosted is the best way to protect you from developing a severe case of COVID-19.”

“If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, the best thing for you is to get tested and be evaluated for treatment,” she said and noted that the federal health team is embedded with local health officials at test and treatment sites.

“American Samoa now has life saving treatments,” she said and again urged those with COVID symptoms to get-tested and “don’t wait until its too late to get the life saving therapies” now available on island.

“All of us must do our part to stay safe, protect ourselves, and those around us, and help those in need,” she said. “Again, I reiterate the importance of the life saving treatments to fight this virus and that if you are COVID positive, consider getting these treatments early so that you can recover nicely from COVID-19.”