Six arrested for breaching COVID-19 lockdown conditions 

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 24 JANUARY 2022: Police arrested six people on Saturday night for breaching Covid-19 lockdown conditions and have issued a stern warning to anyone who may breach the State of Emergency orders.

The existing 48 hours lockdown started 6pm Saturday up until 6pm today, Monday 24 January.

Since the lockdown, police have been out on the road and had checkpoints at several intersections around the country to ensure that only authorised vehicles are on the road.

Sunday was without the normal church services and more families were back at the family evening prayers on Saturday and Sunday evening.

Police said the six arrested on Saturday night were under the influence of alcohol. Police also issued more than 50 warnings on Saturday night and said they had issues with people who did not take the lockdown seriously.

Two young men were given stern warnings when police caught them knocking on a closed shop door close to a police station.

The men were trying to buy alcohol at around 1.00am on Sunday morning.

Police at one of the lockdown checkpoints on Saturday night.

Acting Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logo Filipo said police are implementing a strict campaign to ensure that the SOE orders are strictly adhered to by everyone.

The only people given the authority on the road are essential workers including the media.

However, even these workers have to adhere to the rules by providing a complete vaccination card and an authorized pass to the police when they are on the road.

Prime Minister tour the country
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa went on a visit around Upolu yesterday to see how the country reacted to the lockdown operations.

She also visited the NEOC main centre at Tuana’imato and according to NEOC, her visit was a “morale booster and an encouragement for the staff to share with the Prime Minister on various tasks being delivered through the centre to the nation.”

In a national media address, Fiame Naomi Mataafa urged the public to comply with the state of emergency orders and work together with the Government to ensure a safe Samoa.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa with personnel manning the National Emergency Operations Centre.

COVID-19 Positive Cases remain at 15
Meanwhile, the number of positive COVID-19 cases remains at 15. These were passengers who travelled from Brisbane, Australia on the flight that arrived at Faleolo Airport on Wednesday, 19 January 2022. All of them are being quarantined.

The rest of the 73 passengers are also in quarantine and the PCR tests conducted on Friday, 21 January 2022 all returned negative.

All frontline workers who serviced the flight have been quarantined as of Saturday and their first PCR tests also returned negative.

Samoa remains at Alert Level 3 with a nationwide lockdown in effect until 6.00pm today, Monday, 24 January 2022. The State of Emergency Order 62 promulgated by the Head of State reflected the elevation of Samoa’s Alert to Level 3 following the confirmed 15 positive COVID 19 cases.

CLICK LINK for Latest Sate of Emergency Orders 62 English

The Police continue to provide tight security and enforcement of the SOE Orders. The public is advised to stay home and be safe and to contact the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for enquiries on the SOE Order, and information relating to the nationwide lockdown.