Cabinet has approved amendments to the State of Emergency Orders (S.O.E.) allowing domestic flights between Upolu and Savai’i on Sundays for medical emergency cases only. 

This was announced in Parliament this week by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Tiatia Graeme Tualaulelei. 

According to Tiatia, the amended orders was passed by Cabinet after deliberation this month including discussions on repatriation flights for scholarship students and citizens in Australia. 

Furthermore, Cabinet has also approved the opening of private pharmacies on Sundays urging that all other orders under for covid-19 remains unchanged.  

There are current orders that prohibit Sunday ferry services between Savai’i and Upolu. 

Other restrictions on Sundays imposed include restricted trading hours from 3 p.m. to 7.p.m. for supermarkets and small shops which can close at any time. 

Swimming at the beach or in rivers is also banned on Sundays and hotels can only open for dinning on Sundays from 12 in the afternoon to 10 p.m. 

Restaurants on the other hand can only do takeaways on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Church services is also limited to 100 people or described as 50 couples only.