Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA  — In an advisory released Sunday night, the Health Department announced that quarantine for travelers of the Jan. 27 flight from Honolulu has been extended to Friday, Feb. 11 in “light of the number of recent positive cases identified in quarantine.”

DoH data released at the department’s news conference last Friday shows seven new infections — three travelers and 4 quarantine staff; 31 “historical cases”; and 7 tests pending for further review and retesting.

All new positives were immediately transferred to isolation and DoH has brought in a new shift of quarantine staff.

Many travelers, who have tested negative twice while in quarantine are not very pleased with the extended quarantine days, and posted criticism against DoH on social media and told their family members waiting for them to be released from the three quarantine sites.

The travelers are updated by DoH during Zoom sessions.

In the health advisory, DoH said it is closely monitoring the cases of COVID-19 and will continue to update the public as appropriate. And DoH advises the community to continue to be vigilant at this time by getting vaccinated or getting the booster dose, and “monitoring all health-related issues at this important time.”

No new details were available at press time for an update on the COVID-19 cases or the 7-pending cases that were retested.

RSV OUTBREAK

DoH also says that the advisory for the respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus (RSV) outbreak remains in effect.

According to data and reports from LBJ Hospital Emergency Room and Pediatric Clinics, there has been a significant increase in the number of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms such as: sore throat, coughing, running nose, fever, and lethargy to name a few.

DoH said RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis — inflammation of the small airways in the lung — and pneumonia — infection of the lungs — in children younger than 1 year of age in the United States.

To slow down the spread of VRS infection, all daycare centers are closed this week through Friday.

DoH advises that anyone with flu-like symptoms should avoid going out in public (including going to school or reporting to work) and should stay home until symptoms subside.

“If you are at risk for a severe respiratory infection or if you interact with older adults, you should take extra precautions to stay healthy,” said DoH.