Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua working when he was tested “slightly” positive for COVID-19 has created alarm within the Department.

Last week, Samoa News received numerous calls from staff at the Department of Health expressing concerns after the Director was seen in the office when he had recently tested positive for COVID.

Furthermore they pointed out the Department is the lead agency that enforces isolation and quarantine, yet their leader was not following its own protocol.

In a telephone interview with director, he confirmed he was “slightly positive” and so he went into the office to work from Monday July 17 to Thursday July 21.

“We got in on July 7, we were tested at the airport. My wife got positive and I got negative [results]. We then got transported to isolation for five days.

“During isolation I got tested over there and I was positive so we stayed there until Wednesday the following week. But when I got home I stayed for that entire weekend because I was positive.

“I got tested again on [last] Tuesday and I was slightly positive,” he said.

Furthermore, Motusa said he was tested the same day using the PCR test and waited for the results.

“The following day [Thursday], when the result came back I was in my office.

“And I had a talk with Dr Sai and he told me I need to stay home and that’s what I’m doing now, I’m staying home,” said the Director.  (Samoa News points out the director was referring to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Saipale Fuimaono.)

Adding that his next test is today (Monday).

According to DoH staff the director was not wearing a mask when he was in the office, but Motusa dismissed those claims.

“When I was in the office, and when people showed up. I wore my mask and when people leave I take it off. Also I also have a venting circulation machine inside my office,” he said.

Put to him that as the Director of Health, he should have been following the Department’s own advice for those that test positive to stay home in isolation, the Director was adamant he did not do anything wrong.

DoH staff says last Wednesday Motusa called for an in-person meetings knowing he was “slightly” positive.

 “Why should anyone listen to him anymore if he doesn’t even know how to follow the rules?” asked a member the Senior staff.

 “I’m following the advice to stay home, but my PCR test results came back negative which was given to me [Thursday] afternoon,” said Motusa.

The Center of Disease Control recommendation for essential workers is for five days isolation and if a worker is asymptomatic they can return to duty with precautionary measures.

However senior staff say the Director was symptomatic as he was coughing during the meetings.

The Director did not explain what a “slightly” positive is when questioned, but he concluded: “put that on the paper for everyone to know.”

Samoa News points out that this is the first time — it is aware — of the term “slightly positive” being used locally.

The DoH director could be referring to a “weak positive”, which according to the Ministry of Health- NZ website on COVID-19, “Sometimes the test result might be reported as a ‘weak positive’, which means a very small amount of virus was detected in the sample. This could mean the person was tested towards the beginning or end of the illness when the level of virus in their body was low.”

Samoa News visited the Director’s office on Thursday but was told he was in meetings, again on Friday but the Director took the day off as per advice from the doctors at the Department of Health.