Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During his address Monday morning, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga acknowledged and expressed appreciation to the 55-member federal team that arrived last Friday to provide personnel support and supplies to American Samoa’s response to the community spread of COVID-19.

According to the COVID-19 Situational Report issued Monday night, the territory’s cumulative count to date: 291 confirmed positive cases; no deaths; seven hospitalizations, with 3 for reasons other than COVID-19; and 40 treated with therapeutics. There was no new COVID-19 Situational Report issued Tuesday night with DoH clinics open late til 8p.m (last night), the finally tally was officially confirmed, and the official report is be released this morning, after verifhying by DoH, with data from LBJ, and signed off by the Governor's Authorized Representative.

The federal team, which began their work on Monday, includes Allison Pfaendler with the U.S Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who participated in the Zoom news conference Monday morning following the governor’s address. She notes that FEMA and federal partners are on island to support ASG-led efforts’ in response to COVID-19.

The federal team’s “three lines of effort” to support ASG are: vaccination expansion, including village to village outreach; monoclonal antibody and antiviral treatments; and the review and possible expansion of hospital capabilities.

Pfaendler explained that the U.S Heath and Human Services Department is sending more vaccines and treatment products for this mission. And that the federal team includes U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) epidemiologists to support the overall COVID-19 response plan with ASG.

Also on the team are officials with the U.S Corps of Engineer developing options for hospital expansion with the management team at LBJ Medical Center.

“This is truly a community effort. Between the American Samoa Government, community leaders, federal family, private sector, and the public — we are all here in response to COVID-19,” she said. “The federal family looks forward to supporting American Samoa.”

In his address before the news conference, the governor urged those who have not been vaccinated to do so. He acknowledged that there are residents who do not want to be vaccinated and he understands their unwillingness to do so as their individual right.

However, the governor asked those individuals to show their “alofa” for others such as family members and their children to protect them from being infected by the virus.

Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, who arrived with the federal team, also gave a brief address, where she also thanked the support of the federal team and everyone who played a role in the territory, such as nurses and doctors, for their service in protecting the community.

She also thanked the governor and lieutenant governor for “making this important collaboration” with federal partners.

“If we uncover specific needs, I’ll be able to take my observations back to Congress and keep working on our current and future healthcare,” she said.