NATIONAL LOCKDOWN as Eleven Positive Community Cases are Confirmed

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 18 MARCH 2022: The rapid spread of Covid-19 community transmission cases has so far recorded eleven (11) positive cases from the first confirmed case last night.

The positive case is a 29 year old female who had been living in Samoa for over two years and was supposed to depart Samoa today when she was detected when undergoing prerequisite travel tests yesterday.

In announcing the update tonight, Prime Minister, Fiamē Naomi Mataafa said the rapid spread of cases is in line with the trends and experiences in overseas countries.

The latest positive cases were confirmed from various testing sites around the country today. These cases are now in isolation.

Fiamē said some cases have developed symptoms and others remain asymptomatic.

Talamua has been told that some of the positive cases are medical personnel.

The Prime Minister emphasized that it is very important for the public to comply with the State of Emergency Orders to contain and slow down the spread of the virus.

National Lockdown as of 12 midnight tonight
The whole country moves to Alert Level 3 – RED as of midnight tonight and moving the country into Zones to minimize the movement of people as the Ministry of Health continues its contact tracing and testing following the various places and contacts the first positive case identified.

The Prime Minister also announced important amendments to the SOE Orders to allow public access to essential services such as retail shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, cooking gas, which will be opened on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday from 0800 to 2.00pm. These services will strictly be closed on Sunday.

Fiamē said the country has done well to keep Covid at bay and for the last two years. “But we have always known it will only be a matter of time,” she said.

She appealed for the Village Councils assistance to the police in keeping the curfews and in line with the SOE orders, to contain the rapid spread of the virus.

COVID-19 testing open to the public

One of the testing stations opened to the public today.

The Ministry of Health today opened various testing stations for the public and most of them have utilised the service at Matagialalua behind the Nelson Public Library and other sites.

The service was utilised by many companies today for either precautionary measures or out of fear of getting the virus from the recent case, and one company had the whole staff tested just to be on the safe side.

The MOH teams are already dispatched out to the villages and sites to do tests, but priority is given to the areas where the first positive case had contact with.

State Of Emergency Restrictions
The SOE Orders under Level 3 – RED from midnight tonight to Tuesday 22 March:

• Public to remain at home except authorized personnel;
• All international travel to and from Samoa by plane or boat or ship are suspended except approved by Cabinet;
• Division into zones;
• No Public gatherings;
• Closure of all Government, Mission, private schools and universities;
• Suspension of all government, companies, private business work except essential services;
• Compulsory quarantine for all frontliners;
• Inter-island travel between Savaii and Upolu suspended unless approved by Cabinet;
• The public is encouraged to take COVID-19 tests and the use of the Travel Tracer Apps;
• Compulsory showing of vaccination cards and wearing of facial masks and social distancing;
• Prohibition of street vendors from selling goods;
• Visiting a hospital is not allowed unless it is serious or an emergency.CLICK HERE TO READ the Updated SOE Orders