COVID-19

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the new cases were from July 21 to 25.

The MOH also confirmed that of the 56 new cases, 54 are community cases and 2 are imported cases registered during this period.

The total number of cases (community and border) stands at 15,374.

Five patients are in managed isolation and one patient is admitted in the Intensive Care Unit at the Moto’otua Hospital.

Jiangxia district residents have been ordered to stay inside their homes or compounds for three days after four asymptomatic Covid cases were detected.

China follows a "zero Covid" strategy, including mass testing, strict isolation rules and local lockdowns.

This has resulted in far fewer deaths than in many other countries.

But the strategy is facing growing opposition as people and businesses continue to face the strain of restrictions.

In Wuhan, a city of 12 million people, regular testing uncovered two asymptomatic cases two days ago.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said Samoa's "journey with Covid-19 has been a long two years" and like all countries, Samoa has seen and felt the ravages of the virus across all sectors of the economy.

Fiame said Samoa's "norms" have changed including wearing masks, social distancing, and adapting to periodic nationwide lockdowns to minimise the rapid spread of the virus.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that out of the 268 cases recorded, 129 cases were recorded in the Central Division; 122 cases in the Western Division and 17 cases in the North.

97 new cases were recorded on Friday, 71 cases on Saturday and 41 cases on Sunday and 59 new cases in the last 24 hours ending at 8 am yesterday.

An 82-year-old man was presented to the Raiwaqa Health Centre in respiratory distress on the 9th of this month.

He was transferred to the CWM Covid ward, where he passed away yesterday.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the new statistics has taken the number of cases (community and border) to 15,178 to date.

MOH also reported that there are two patients isolated at the Moto’otua National Hospital and none in the Intensive Care Unit.

The Ministry said, “In strengthening our defense against the virus, the public is kindly reminded to remain vigilant and adhere to public health advice by continuing to wear facial masks, complying with social distancing, stay home and isolate if one feels unwell, and maintain good personal hygiene at all times.”

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the new cases were recorded within the period commencing from 5th to 9th of July.

“These cases take the total number of COVID-19 positive cases (community and border) to 15,115. Currently, there is one patient being isolated at the Moto’otua National Hospital.”

“While the country continues to remain at Alert Level 1, it is important that we continue to adhere to public health advice by wearing a mask and maintaining good personal hygiene, to help contain the spread of the virus, and to prevent new infections.”

By Thursday, testing confirmed that 23 of 82 people in quarantine in the Marshall Islands "Safe Travels" repatriation programme were positive, while an additional three people in US Army-managed quarantine were also positive.

The Marshall Islands has so far remained Covid-free with no community spread. All of the 26 positive cases remain in government-managed quarantine centres on Kwajalein and Majuro.

Up until recently, the country required anyone coming to the Marshall Islands to quarantine in Honolulu first with multiple Covid tests prior to travelling.

It follows the arrival of the first quarantine free flight from New Zealand last week.

The government says so far all of the people who have tested positive for the virus were on the flight.

Premier Dalton Tagelagi is a close contact of one of the passengers and is in isolation at home.

Niue remains at Alert Level Yellow as there is no community transmission.

The government asks anyone with Covid-19 symptoms to get tested.

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The Ministry's latest reporting period data shows that 50 new community cases were reported from June 27 to 29.

The total number of community and border cases now stands at 14,964.

There were no Covid-related deaths during the period in review and the total number of deaths since 17 March 2022 remains at 29.

So far 158,240 rapid antigen tests have been given since the first community case was confirmed.

The Ministry continues to promote vaccination as the best defense against the severe effects of the virus.

The first case was discovered two weeks ago, and another two cases were discovered last week, however, the total number of cases over the territory is still unknown.

Local Covid-19 health expert Henri Pierre Mallet told La Premiere that this new variant might mean a return to a similar situation to previous outbreaks.

"It's more contagious, that's why we are having such an increase.