Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sua District #2 Representative, Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava believes that the only move to stop the community transmission of COVID-19 is for the government to completely lockdown and called to the Task Force to seriously consider this option as quickly as possible to prevent any severe impact in the future.

Avagafono said that reports from the Department of Health and the Task Force reveal that confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 increase everyday and it appears that the situation is getting worse for our people.

“Based on the data we have on hand with the increasing numbers of people who are testing positive everyday, I personally believe that a complete lockdown for our whole government is the only solution to this problem,” Avagafono said.

He further stated that while other people are living in fear due to the fast spread of the virus in the community, some people are taking the virus very lightly by roaming in public areas without masks.

He said that we should learn our lesson from what happened to many countries, including the US, and heed the advice of health authorities and the Task Force to prevent the loss of life. He said that no one can predict death, only God.

Fofo Representative and Chairman of the House Health Committee, Andra Samoa informed faipule that the latest update from the Task Force regarding the total number of people who tested positive for Covid-19.

She said that as of Mar. 13, 2022, 28 individuals tested positive at the LBJ Medical Center. There were no hospitalization and no deaths. The total numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases so far is 555 from 41 different villages in Tutuila.

A House hearing with members of the Task Force is scheduled for Thursday at 11a.m to discuss more about ending the Code designations.

(Samoa News should point out that Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga eliminated the three-tier color-coded COVID-19 threat levels, in his declaration yesterday morning, saying it is no longer “practical”. See story elsewhere for details of the modified virus declaration, released yesterday.)

Ituau District Representative and House Health Vice Chairman Logoitu’au Mark Atafua revealed his disappointment about reports he says were circulated by the Task Force that the first community transmission was from his village of Nu’uuli.

To set the record straight, Logoitu’au said the first community transmission case was from from Sogi, Leone, not Nu’uuli.

(Samoa News should point out that the Task Force did note that a Leone family — infected by a member of their family who worked in quarantine —attended a church in Nu’uuli over the weekend, thereby possibly infecting fellow churchgoers.)

Rep. Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi noted that based on the data shared by the Task Force and DoH almost everyday regarding the total numbers of people who are testing positive with the virus, it appears that there’s nothing our people should worry about.

Vailiama said that ever since the first reported case of COVID-19 from community transmission, the two days that got the highest number of confirmed cases was the two past Fridays, where the numbers stand at 61 positive cases.

He further explained that out of 7,773 COVID tests conducted, only 555 people tested positive and if you can do the math and compare the number of positives cases out of the total population of 49,000 living in American Samoa percentage-wise, the estimate numbers of people who could test positive is around 3,000 — and that’s a small number.

“We should advise our people to stop living in fear because of this pandemic but try to be calm and trust in the Lord,” Vailiuama.

Vice Speaker of the House Fetu Fetui Jr echoed Vailiuama’s statement and suggested that each faipule advise their constituents to get the booster shot and comply with the requirements set up by the Task Force.

Rep. Lua’itaua Gene Pan officially announced in the House chamber that his mother and sister have tested positive and they’re both in home isolation. He also reported that he has had three COVID tests and all came back negative.

He said that while the virus is spreading all over the Tutuila island, he has already informed his district about his family situation and at the same time advised them not to come close to his residence.

Lua’itaua also suggested that everyone should do the same thing — inform members of the public if someone from their household tests positive.

In February of this year, Avagafono called out to ASG leaders to take the issue of increased positive cases of COVID-19 at the border seriously and consider a move to prevent further consequences.

He asked the Speaker of the House if there is any possibility of advising leaders of the government to delay the next HAL flight from Honolulu until all positive cases are cleared and released back into the community.

Avagafono said that members of the community, along with some of the passengers who are in quarantine are confused about what is going on and something needs to be done to prevent the virus from spreading.