1. Last night, 12 th February 2021, a 16 year – old male passenger who arrived with his
mother from California, USA on repatriation flight NZ990 tested positive for Covid 19 on
arrival and again on repetition while in managed isolation at the TTM Isoalation Unit last
night.
2. He is asymptomatic and in good health. The 16-year old Samoan national travelled with
his mother from California and transited through New Zealand on Wednesday 10 th
February for 26 hours before arriving in Samoa on Friday 12 th February 2021.
3. The mother of the 16 year-old tested negative on arrival; has no symptoms and is being
closely monitored at the quarantine site. She has been re-tested today 13 th February and
todays results were negative.
4. All infection, prevention and control protocols have been strictly followed by the health
workers, response teams and staff at the Airport, Quarantine sites and Isolation units. They
will however, be tested again on Monday 15 th February 2021.
5. At this time, seven other passengers are being closely monitored as tests have revealed that
five have tested positive and are historical cases; and two are false positives. Six of these
passengers travelled from Australia and one from Sudan. They have all been retested and
the results received later today are all negative.
6. Fifty (50) passengers from the repatriation flight NZ990 on Friday 22 nd 2021, travelled
from high-risk countries outside of New Zealand,such as (Australia, USA, United
Kingdom, India, Nigeria, South Africa) have tested negative on arrival and routine testing
will continue as per protocol.
7. Tests are conducted on arrival, on day five (5), on day 14, and on day 21 of quarantine.
Passengers are also screened daily for symptoms.
8. Normal operations continue at TTM.
Private Bag
Motootua
APIA
SAMOA
Tel: (685) 68100
Facsimile (685) 23483
Please address all
correspondence to the
officer whose signature
appears on this document.
2
9. The public is, however, asked to implement and follow all prevention guidance that has
been shared previously. Please check the MOH website.
10. The main route of transmission remains through close contact with the droplets from an
infected person and touching your face after touching surfaces contaminated with infected
droplets.
11. Please wear your mask, stay way from large crowds, maintain a distance of at least two
metres from other persons, stay home if you are ill and call the COVID-119 Hotline for
advice, cover your coughs and sneezes, do not touch your face, and clean your hands
regularly with soap and clean water or hand sanitizer.
12. Another update will be provided at (time)
Leausa Samau Dr Take Naseri.
DG/CEO MoH