Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an advisory distributed over the weekend, the Health Department announced the presence in American Samoa of the new COVID-19 omicron variant, BA.2, detected on some of the passengers on the Mar. 31st flight from Honolulu.

DoH  first presented the information during the COVID-19 Task Force briefing late last week, saying that 15 specimens from travelers on the Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu on Mar. 31 that tested COVID positive were sent to the Hawaii State Lab for genomic sequencing.

And DoH received the results on the evening of Apr. 26 showing that six specimens with the new BA.2 variant; eight confirmed for the BA1.1 variant; and one was pending a result from Honolulu, according to officials who attended the task force briefing.

In previous task force news conferences, Health officials confirmed the presence of BA1.1 variant in the territory, from previous flights.

DoH in its health advisory announced the Omicron-BA.2 variant was detected from travelers on the last month’s flight.

“Initial findings and data suggest that Omicron-BA.2 spreads faster.

“There is currently no evidence that it can cause more severe disease than the BA.1.

“Omicron-BA.2 reminds us that the virus is still out there, and cases can go up the moment we let our guard down,” the advisory says.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the highly transmissible and contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant — dubbed “stealth” Omicron — is now the dominant strain in the United States, causing more than 85% of all COVID-19 cases. (Details on www.cdc.gov.)

DoH has again reminded the community to get boosted as soon as possible, as immunity is proven to decrease over time. First boosters are recommended 5 months after second dose Pfizer or Moderna, or one dose of Janssen.

Further, all eligible immune-comprised individuals ages 12 and old, all individuals, who are 50 years and older, and first responders are highly recommended to acquire the second booster shot when eligible (4 months are the first booster shot).

Together, we can take the necessary steps in preventing further transmission of the COVID-19 virus by properly wearing masks, washing hands thoroughly, isolating when sick and symptomatic, social distancing from others (6 feet apart), doubling-up protection through vaccination and boosters, disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces, and ensuring good ventilation throughout indoor spaces, the advisory said.

DoH strongly advises the public to “get tested if you have been exposed to someone who is positive or once symptoms are present to determine the need for treatments. Treatments must be given within the first few days of feeling sick to be effective.”

For more information as well as testing and COVID sites call DoH command post 219.