Samoa prepares for ‘living with COVID 19’ and gradual opening of its borders

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 29 MARCH 2022: The Samoan Government is preparing the country to live with a new norm of the Covid-19 virus and looking at a gradual opening of its borders.

In an update last night of the latest lockdown conditions, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa said room has been given “different sectors of the economy, including the private sector and the community to finalize their response plans going forward to reflect the new norm of ‘living with COVID 19’ and identifying the best ways to move forward with the gradual opening of borders.”

When the current Alert Level 3 was enforced 19 March until 5 April, the Government was to review the situation by today 29 March.

The community cases have increased rapidly from the first community case on 17 March to 1,239 as of 27 March.

97% percent of these cases are based in Upolu and 3% in Savaii. Currently there are no cases in the Intensive Care Unit and most of the cases that were isolated in isolation wards at Motootua after developing mild symptoms, have been discharged.

According to the Prime Minister, critical to this review are recommendations for the next course of action from the Disaster Advisory Committee.

At its meeting yesterday afternoon, Cabinet was advised that 70,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine would arrive today. This coincides with the plan to commence the mass vaccination of booster doses on Thursday this week in Upolu and on Friday in Savaii.

“The vaccination roll out will coincide with the ‘mop up’ campaigns for first doses of the paediatric Pfizer for the 5-11 year old cohort, and second doses for the 11-17 age group and 18 plus,” said Fiame.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa giving an update of the lockdown last night.

Frontline workers diminishing numbers
“In rolling out this plan, Cabinet is mindful of the capacity of our frontline workers given the increasing numbers of those who have tested positive and are being isolated,” said the Prime Minister.

The plan is to allow frontline workers space to recuperate and to roster their teams with assistance from the health private sector, will ensure continuity of our national COVID 19 response, as well as commitment to other equally important health services such as our national immunization programs to be delivered in a safe environment.

“It also provides room for different sectors of the economy, including the private sector and the community to finalize their response plans going forward to reflect the new norm of ‘living with COVID 19’ and identifying the best ways to move forward with the gradual opening of borders,” said the Prime Minister.

“With the rapid surge in new infections, our aim is to slow down transmission and to drive our vaccination to achieve the targeted coverage required for herd immunity.

“It is clear from clinical evidence that chances of developing acute symptoms of, or likely death from COVID 19 will be minimal with complete vaccination and a booster dose. It is important for all of us to get maximum protection by completing all our vaccinations given the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Samoa.”

Cabinet has afternoon approved the continuation of the second week of Alert Level 3 for Samoa commencing from midnight Tuesday 29 March 2022 to midnight of Tuesday next week 5 April 2022.

Cabinet has also approved amendments to the current State of Emergency Orders to ensure that the public continue to access essential services and to replenish their food supplies.

The Opening hours for Essential Services will now open from 6am – 4pm on Tuesday 29 March, Thursday 31 March, Saturday 2 April and Tuesday 5 April.  Below is the vaccination notice for today and the scheduled dates for the rest of the roll out of the vaccination programs will be publicized in due course.