Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As of 8p.m. Tuesday, March 1, the territory’s cumulative total of positive COVID-19 cases had reached 94, as the Health Department awaits a new shipment of vaccine for adults due to arrive this coming Saturday, Mar. 5, according to the DoH report released Monday night.

As DoH and the COVID-19 Task Force continue to push for COVID-19 vaccinations “our vaccine supplies have been depleted” due to a large surge in demand for the vaccine. “There are no more vaccines for adults on the island. Next shipment is expected March 5,” the report states.

Nine new COVID-19 positives were identified in the past 24-hours, according to the Health Department’s Situational Report released last night.

Of the new positives, seven of them were fully vaccinated while the status of the other two has yet to be firmed up, according to the report, which also states that there were no hospitalization or deaths related to COVID-19 on Mar. 1st and those who tested positive were served with a Home Isolation Directive for 14-days.

As with previous confirmed cases, all family members of the same household of the new positives are considered close contacts and will be served with a 14-day Home Quarantine Directives.

In an earlier report, DoH said that anyone who tests positive for the Coronavirus will be assessed by a physician for therapeutic treatment — which is made available at each of the DoH Community COVID19 Clinics and at LBJ.

Additionally, DoH’s EpiNet Team conducts daily calls to Moderate/ High risk positive cases for assessment And the EpiNet Lead Physician will determine if the case needs to be transported from their homes to a Community COVID19 Clinic for treatment. Transportation is provided by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Dial-a-Ride by the Department of Human and Social Services.

During the COVID-19 Task Force news conference on Monday morning, the territory’s lead Epidemiologist, Dr. Aifili John Tufa of DoH delivered an urgent message for the community as the virus spreads on Tutuila.

“If you are symptomatic, and know you’ve been exposed to someone whose traveled recently, or somebody tested positive recently, please come in to get your self tested, so we can make an assessment,” he said.

“However, if you are asymptomatic — and you have not had any exposure to anyone, you do not need to come in. Please follow [the] Code Red status here, because we don’t want too many people to be moving around unnecessarily,” the DoH doctor pointed out.

“And also, if you are 50-years and older with pre-existing chronic conditions, we are urging you to come in to get your booster shot,” he said.

To “beat” the spread of the deadly virus, Dr. Tufa said, “get yourself vaccinated, get the booster shot and... if you are positive or if you have been exposed and you are symptomatic — come in get tested and we’ll get you the therapeutic treatment.”

And he declared, “Therapeutic treatment and vaccination is how we’ll beat this virus in the territory.”

For the latest update on the testing and vaccination sites, call DoH command post at 219 or go to the DoH Facebook page.