7 new COVID-19 cases; hospital enforces mask wearing
Three Rapid Antigen Tests (R.A.T.) conducted at home display negative readings for COVID-19.
Photo: Tina Mata'afa-Tufele Elise
COVID-19 has reared its ugly head again with seven new cases recorded in the month of December, according to data contained in a situational report issued by the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) the day after Christmas Day.
There were two (2) new positive cases of COVID-19 between 11 and 18 December, 2022, according to the 18 December, 2022 report.
There were five (5) cases recorded the week prior between 4-11 December, 2022, according to the situational report dated 11 December, 2022.
Combined, a total of seven positive cases of COVID-19 were detected over a two-week period in December 2022.
None were detected at the borders.
The positive cases were detected using both Polymerase Chain Reaction (P.C.R.) testing and Rapid Antigen Tests (R.A.T.), according to M.O.H. reports.
The new cases bring the total number of cumulative number of COVID-19 positive cases (since community transmission was detected on 17 March, 2022) to 15,790.
The total cumulative number of cases including border cases and community cases is 15,982.
To date, there have been 29 deaths since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
The last death related to COVID-19 was recorded on 20 June, 2022.
There are no new deaths linked to COVID-19 to report.
In a 23 December, 2022 public notice, the M.OH. reminds the public that “as part of our ongoing national campaign against COVID-19” they will be enforcing strict mask wearing upon entry to the hospital at all times.
Children are not allowed in any other areas of the hospital including the pharmacy.
Only one person is allowed to pick up medication prescribed by a medical doctor and is required to wear a mask.
“The support of the public is appreciated and we urge everyone to be more health conscious and continue to take all other health preventative measures when visiting the hospitals at all times and at home during this festive season,” the public notice states.
For more information, members of the public may contact M.O.H. at (685) 21212 or on Facebook.