Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  In a media statement yesterday morning, the Health Department reported that on Tuesday, Mar. 8, some 52-individuals tested positive and there were no new hospitalizations to report that are due to COVID-19.

With the new positives, American Samoa cumulative total has reached 343 cases, since the community spread of coronavirus late last month, effecting only Tutuila island, with no cases reported so far from Aunu’u and the Manu’a island group.

Also on Mar. 8, about 1,569 doses were administered at the COVID-19 vaccination sites, of these about 1,456 doses were booster doses.

Samoa News notes that the increase in booster shots indicates that residents who are fully vaccinated have heeded the call from local health officials, government leaders and federal medical experts to get the booster shot for individuals who are fully vaccinated.

Since community spread of the virus was first documented, the DoH report is usually released in the evening hours. However, because DoH had extended the clinic hours to 8p.m. on Tuesday for vaccine and testing, members of the its staff were still inputting and reviewing data that evening, resulting in the report being sent out yesterday after 8a.m.

The separate, American Samoa COVID-19 Situational Report states that no deaths were reported on Tuesday from LBJ Medical Center, one hospitalization — for a reason other then COVID — and 14 were treated with therapeutics.

Of the new positives recorded on Tuesday, 35 are from Health Department clinics and 17 identified at LBJ Medical Center, according to the report, which also states that eight-individuals have “recovered from COVID-19”.

No additional information was provided on the 8 who recovered, but an ASG official said these are the first individuals who tested positive and were placed in 14-day home isolation. And another round of testing was scheduled for yesterday for others who tested positive and placed in 14-day home isolation.

Of the total 343 positives, data in the report shows that the number of cases continues to rise in some villages, with double-digit cases reported in Tafuna with 64 case, followed by Nuuuli 46, Leone 39, Iliili 25, Pavaiai 24, Pago Pago 23, Vatia 18, Fagasa 17, Faleniu 11, and Malaeloa 10.

Meanwhile, the federal team who arrived on island last Friday is working with DoH staff at the vaccination sites. And the two Epidemiologists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are providing guidance and recommendations to local health officials on mitigation measures for community protection.

In addition, Public Health Service officers have been assigned to different sites to assist in the vaccination and testing efforts.

For the latest update on vaccination and test sites call DoH Command Post at 219 or visit the DoH Facebook page, which is updated daily on any changes to the schedule.