Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During the LBJ Hospital’s presentation at yesterday’s COVID Task Force press conference televised live on KVZK Dr. Akapusi Ledua revealed an updated report on the total number of COVID related deaths and also gave some additional details on those who have passed away.

In the LBJ report Dr. Ledua said that there are now 17 COVID-related deaths in the territory after including 4 deaths that were not initially reported. Three of these individuals were dead on arrival, while the fourth died at the ER COVID TENT located at the front of the LBJ Emergency Room area.

With regards to the four previously unreported COVID-related deaths, the first is a 93-year-old female who was dead on arrival on Mar. 29, followed by the second one, a 77-year-old male dead on arrival on Mar. 30.

The 3rd unreported COVID-related death is a 39-year-old female who died at the ER COVID Tent also on Mar. 30 and the fourth, an 87-year-old female dead on arrival on Apr. 3.

The LBJ report stated that out of 17 COVID-related deaths, 6 of them died at the COVID WARD, 8 died on arrival and 3 died at the ER COVID TENT.

The COVID victims range in age from 29-years old to a 93-year old. Nine of them are female individuals, while eight of them are males.

Last Friday, Apr. 8, the COVID-related death reported is a 93-year-old male individual who was dead on arrival. Based on the information provided to the Task Force, the male individual tested positive for CPVOD. He had not received any COVID shots and had not visited the hospital for three years.

The cumulative COVID-19 case count is now estimated at 5,383, with 3,421 individuals who previously tested positive now recovered. The local vaccination rate now stands at 83.7% and DoH continues to encourage that you get the shots if you have not done so.

LBJ reported that in the last 24 hours, only one patient was admitted at the COVID WARD — a 92-year-old male individual.

The Task Force also provided an update on the current situation at StarKist. Out of 2,253 total employees, all are fully vaccinated — but only 935 employees have received booster shots.

Tafuna has the highest number of positive cases of 933; second is Nu’uuli village with 618 positives cases; Leone at 411 and Iliili at 315.

The cannery reported 220 positive cases so far; 173 recovered and there are 47 active cases. Eight (8) cases were detected at the Starkist Medical Center.

The report also stated that a 173 free meals were delivered last Thursday to 78 households with 302 total members, and 31 meals were returned.

While the government continues to provide free meals to families who test positive, several families have contacted Samoa News complaining that they have not received any free meal delivery from the Task Force.

All of these families have family members who tested positive for Covid-19 and they are in home isolation for 14 days.

Families from several villages told Samoa News that every time they contact the Emergency Office Center (EOC) requesting free meal delivery for their family, staff members are giving them excuses.

A woman from Nu’uuli said when she called the EOC office requesting food delivery for her and her 6 family members who were isolated after her husband tested positive, the female individual who answered the telephone told her they are not eligible for free meal delivery because their home isolation period is completed.

However, the family next door who completed their 14-day home isolation two weeks prior to them are still receiving free meal delivery as allegedly one member of that family works at the DOE School Lunch Program office.

Four families in Fagatogo shared the same concern. They stated that when they contacted EOC, the answer was, “you’re not eligible”.