While the nation celebrates the Christmas and New Year’s festive season, frontline workers continue to play a critical role in ensuring the country’s safety amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Samoa closed its international borders and activated a State of Emergency in March of 2020, as a preventative measure against the COVID-19 global pandemic.

For close to two years front liner workers have worked tirelessly to ensure the country is safe. 

However, the country has gone through a major emergency in the form of a severe measles outbreak in late 2019 and early part of 2020. Just as it was recovering from the Measles epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic began.

While most people are familiar with the National Emergency Operation Centre and the Ministry of Health teams for being at the forefront of the response effort. 

Those working behind the scenes as front liners also include: airport staff, sea-port staff, police officers, Customs and Immigration staff, security guards, drivers, airline workers, hotel staff, not forgetting local doctors and nurses. 

Samoa’s first confirmed COVID-19 historical case was discovered on November 18, 2020.

While the first confirmed COVID-19 case was recorded on February 13, 2021.  To date, Samoa has only recorded two COVID-19 cases and the country is still on Alert Level 1.

The nation has never had a community transmission. 

The last repatriation flight to Samoa on 18 December 2021 was the latest in a total of 118 flights this year which brought 7,615 people into the country; the majority were Samoans from New Zealand followed by Australia. 

All flights that arrive at the Faleolo airport, passengers get tested before they depart to various quarantine sites. 

There are more than 20 facilities that are being utilised as quarantine sites. 

Furthermore, there are also frequent mandatory assessments for infection control and environmental health for all quarantine sites prior, during and upon completion of operation.

However, since the start of the State of Emergency, a total of 703 port calls have been made at the Mata’utu International Port. 

With 229 container vessels docked at Mata’utu Port complemented 112 general cargo ships while container and general cargo vessels topped the number of vessels calling into port. 

In a previous press conference the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa said our frontlines are making the ultimate sacrifice by putting their lives on the line each time they are called to duty to ensure that the entire country is safe from the COVID-19.

The frontliners work long hours, early hours and late nights yet they receive normal salary. 

Prime Minister Fiame previously announced that the Cabinet has held talks to reward front line workers for the role they played in managing the pandemic and health risks.

Fiame acknowledged each person working and identified as a frontliner while also extending a sincere appreciation to all frontliners.

“Frontliners must be acknowledged and on behalf of a grateful people, I extend our sincere appreciation to all our frontliners.”

The Chairman of N.E.O.C., Agafili Shem Leo mentioned in a previous press conference that while many are resting during the Christmas and New Year’s break frontliners at quarantine sites continue working.

“The last repatriation flight arrived on December 18 which means if there is a three week quarantine, the festive season will conclude yet work continues on for those at the quarantine sites.”

The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri has revealed in a previous press conference that they have staff at each quarantine site.

This means the staff at the quarantine sites sacrifice their time with families and do not leave to go home to carry out their duties.  

 Leausa also said that all frontliners undergo COVID-19 testing as well. 

While repatriated passengers undergo COVID-19 testing, by the time most passengers finish their quarantine period they have been tested five to seven times.

The National Policy Coordination Committee will be working on an “inclusive policy” that will cover risk allowance for 300 frontline workers who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Agafili who is also the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said in a previous interview that an estimated 300 first responders will be entitled to the risk allowance.

In addition, Agafili said it was important to consider the risks encountered by frontline workers if they catch the coronavirus. 

He said the policy should address certain conditions for Government permanent workers and those on contract who are normally not entitled to such allowance.