Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — Leader of the Catholic Church in American Samoa, Bishop Peter Brown has called on his fellow Church leaders in the territory to encourage all to get vaccinated for COVID-19, as he is on lockdown in New Zealand, which is faced with the spread of the new delta variant.

In a letter issued this past Sunday, titled the “Pandemic of the Unvaccinated”, Bishop Brown sends greetings from New Zealand, now in lockdown, saying that New Zealand, suddenly, returned to Level 4 lockdown last Tuesday (in New Zealand), with one case of COVID-19 delta variant.

“Very quickly this has expanded to 51 as over 40,000 people get tested per day in Auckland. Many hundreds of places have been warned they are places where infections may have occurred including 7 schools and churches,” he said. “We are not allowed to leave our houses.

“The message is, this variety of COVID travels very very fast infecting people who just pass each other in 30 seconds. It is frightening to see the speed of this virus,” he said, noting that people in Zealand “are particularly vulnerable as many have not been vaccinated.”

He declared, “It is now the pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

Bishop Brown noted, “Pope Francis speaks of our responsibility as brothers and sisters to care for each other, especially the elderly and young by getting vaccinated. He speaks of getting vaccinated as an act love for your neighbor.”

“Young people are also venerable to delta with many ending up in hospital seriously sick. The demand of your rights can never overcome the common good of our country and each other in the Community,” he said.

He said American Samoa has no virus and has been blessed by God and “the good leadership of our leaders. However, we need to do our part by getting vaccinated. Only 60% have had their shots.”

Bishop Brown then issued an important call: “I call upon my fellow Church Leaders across American Samoa to encourage all to be vaccinated to ensure when Delta does arrive, we will be protected.”

“May Almighty God continue to protect American Samoa,” said Bishop Brown who remains locked down in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, territorial leaders and health officials continue to call on all those not yet vaccinated to do so, as American Samoa aims for 80% or more of the population getting vaccinated.

Samoa News should point out that the Covid Task Force has mentioned that American Samoa opening its borders (especially from Hawaii) depends on how well it meets its’ vaccination goal. Currently Hawaii is looking at a surge in Covid cases with hospitalization rates soaring.

DoH said its clinics are open for vaccination on selected days, as well as the one at the ground floor of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office building in Utulei. Please call DoH hotline: 219 — for information.