Samoa records first COVID-related death
Apia, SAMOA — The Samoa Observer is reporting Samoa’s first COVID-related death.
An elderly man from the Lalomanu district, with a pre-existing medical condition passed away on Wednesday, the Lalomanu district hospital confirmed to the Samoa Observer.
A senior member of staff at the Lalomanu district hospital confirmed the case, telling the Observer Thursday afternoon that it was an elderly man from the district who died.
"Staff are cleaning up the room where the patient was," the senior member of staff added.
It is understood the room where the patient was admitted was fumigated and thoroughly cleaned out by hospital staff.
In a statement released at 9.31pm Thursday (Samoa time) the M.O.H. confirmed the death of the man on Wednesday 30 March, which the Ministry said came 13 days after Samoa's first community case was detected.
"The deceased, a 67-year-old male, had multiple comorbidities. He died shortly after he was admitted to the Lalomanu District Hospital yesterday [Wednesday]," reads the statement. "Out of respect for the family we will not be making any further comments."