Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa’s fourth COVID-19 related death is a 63-year old female who passed away on Mar. 28, according to LBJ Medical Center’s daily information included in an ASG briefing report, which also shows the number of positive cases as a result of the community spread has reached than 3,700.

The COVID-19 Situational Report shows that on Mar. 28 — 326 new cases were recorded, no new hospitalizations, one new COVID-related death, 145 treated, and 175 were released from home isolation.

Of the new positives, the report shows that, 276 were identified at Health Department clinics and 50 at the LBJ Medical Center. 

Since the outbreak started on Feb. 21 and up to Mar. 28, cumulative count to date has 3,756 confirmed community cases, 4 deaths, 1,160 treated with therapeutics. Furthermore, 736 individuals who previously tested positive have now recovered or have completed their 14 days of isolation. “Our collective data suggest that 3,020 active cases have been recorded,” the report states.

The community spread has been contained on the main island of Tutuila while authorities have put in place restrictions for travel to and from the Manu’a island group — with no reported cases.

On the other hand, positive cases on Aunu’u island have increased to 10, while Tafuna village continues to have the highest numbers at 667 positives as of Mar. 28.

During Monday’s virtual news conference, DoH clinical services acting director, Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao provided a projection of when the surge will peak and when it’s predicted to decline. The highest daily count so far was 386 positives last week Thursday.

“From all the calculations that we did, American Samoa will reach its peak around the end of March to Apr. 2 with the highest number of cases peaking at 350 to 400 per day,” Dr. Lauvao explained during the DoH presentation. “Then the declining number of cases will be around April 6 and decline all the way down by May 4.”

She emphasized that this is “only a projection” as it might change depending on the number of cases, and on the number of people coming in to be tested at the testing sites.

And “by the end of this outbreak, the number of positive cases are projected to be 9,666 to 10,000,” Dr. Lauvao points out.

There remains concern from some in the community about at-home COVID-19 test kits where a positive test at home is not reported to DoH or the task force. And Dr. Lauvao was asked by the news media, about this issue with people testing positive from an at-home test kit.

“If you tested positive, the next step is to come in to one of our testing sites to reconfirm your positive test, so we can enter you on the line-list, to make sure you are on the list of positive cases,” she responded.

Also during Monday’s news conference,  U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) leader, Allison Pfaendler provided an update from the federal response team, reiterating that “our primary goal from the federal side is to ensure that every person in American Samoa who wishes to receive medical treatment to combat COVID-19 is afforded that opportunity.”

“Together with our American Samoa counterparts we are supporting four therapeutic sites, three vaccination sites” and at these sites, medical personnel include 28 public health officers with the U.S Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, she explained.

There’s also a 15-person Health and Medical Task Force – comprising physicians, physician assistants, nurses, medics and respiratory therapists — who continue to support LBJ with supporting of 24-hour COVID-19 operations.

For FEMA staff, they continue to coordinate federal support with American Samoa counterparts. And FEMA along with U.S Health and Human Services Department continues to support ASG in getting medical supplies including additional therapeutics.

And she joined the federal team, and ASG officials in urging the community to get vaccinated and boosted. And if you experience symptoms go to the testing sites to get tested and treated as quickly as possible.