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FEMA and other feds arriving this week to assist in COVID response

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fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — ASG, through the Health Department, is working with its federal partners, including the U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide more COVID-19 tests and other supplies, as community spread of the virus continues to increase.

DoH officials made the announcement at last Thursday’s news conference, in response to media follow-up questions about the limited test supplies and therapeutic treatment medication on island.

Responding to the test supply issue, the territory’s lead Epidemiologist at the DoH, Dr. Aifiili John Tufa said, “We do have a limited number of test supplies on island and we want to make sure that we are testing those individuals who need to be tested, so we can identify those who need to be assessed for therapeutic treatment.”

It’s “also recommended that all family members who might be asymptomatic and know that they have a known exposure — meaning that you have been exposed to someone who traveled within 14-days or if you yourself have traveled in the past 14-days, or if you’ve been exposed to someone that is known to have tested positive of COVID-19 — those are the individuals [we’re asking] to please come in for testing at the clinics,” he explained.

 And individuals testing positive will be assessed by DoH doctors to determine if they need treatment or not, he said.

He said DoH has medication on island, “to give to those individuals at-risk — meaning if you have pre-existing heart conditions, or are 65 years and older. Those are the individuals we really want to have... tested so we can see if you fit the criteria for our therapeutic treatment.”

On the issue of limited supplies for therapeutic treatments, Dr. Tufa acknowledged limited supplies on island “because it’s hard to get.”

“However, we are working very closely with our federal partners and we’ve asked to increase our allotment, and that has already happened,” he said. “We expect a lot more medication to come our way in the near future.”

“For testing supplies we have a lot on order, [and a supply] should be on its way and we’re also working with our federal partners” as well, he said.

Health director Motusa Tuileama Nua added that, “we are working with our FEMA partners” on supply issues.

Samoa News received information over the weekend that officials from a handful of federal agencies are planning to arrive later this week on a charter flight to provide support and supplies.

Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale, who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR), and led the Zoom news conference, said the governor had already made contact with FEMA for additional support and assistance for American Samoa’s response to the COVID-19 community spread.

Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga — during a special address in Samoan that was by Zoomed and streamed live on KVZK-TV last Wednesday morning said he had requested federal government assistance with the current spread of the virus. And the request covers medical personnel, supplies, and vaccines.