State of Emergency (S.O.E.) Orders have been relaxed following the Cabinet’s decision on Friday to downgrade the Government’s Alert Level to Level 2.

The country had been under Alert Level 3 since a nationwide lockdown went into effect at 6pm last Saturday. However, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, in a national address at 10am Friday (local time), said the 27 positive COVID-19 cases remain in quarantine and due to there being no community transmission Cabinet has decided to lift the lockdown but with restrictions.

“We have also received the results of 7 specimen variant determination tests sent to New Zealand on January 22,” Fiame said during her special announcement. 

“Six were of the Omicron variant and one was Delta. From the regular testing schedule there is no community transmission.”

Out of the 27 positive cases, five of them are nurses with the rest passengers from last Wednesday’s Brisbane charter flight.

The Alert Level 1 under the amended S.O.E. Orders caters for the reopening of work, business and government services.  

PUBLIC GATHERINGS/TRANSPORT SERVICES

Public gatherings whether it’s a funeral, wedding, church service, or at a nightclub – the crowd number is restricted to only 30 people with the 2-meter social distancing policy to be observed.

Public transport such as buses is restricted to only 20 passengers while the number of people in a taxi is limited to 4 individuals.

Inter-island ferries will also resume but there is no restriction on the number of passengers and the shipping company is to ensure social distancing is observed during the journey.

The permit is only granted to cargo flights into and out of Samoa until further notice. 

All inbound repatriation flights, seasonal workers flights and outbound passenger services flights are suspended until further notice. 

Container ships and oil tankers are allowed to berth at Matautu wharf to ensure adequate food and fuel supply chains for Samoa. 

The school openings are to be suspended but encourage the use of virtual, audio-visual and other e-learning platforms. In addition, 12 years and under age groups are prohibited from public places. 

MANDATORY ORDERS AND VACCINATION

It is compulsory for people to carry their vaccination cards with them, wear facial masks and observe social distancing. 

For public servants, they will be refused entry to workplaces without a vaccination card or without being fully vaccinated. 

Those who have not completed their doses or are fully vaccinated are able to do so at the vaccination sites in Moto’otua and out in district hospitals. The booster shots are also available to roll out.

As for the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5–12 the Ministry of Health is waiting for supplies to start vaccinating this age group. 

The regular PCR testing for people in quarantine to continue and paediatric vaccination roll out when it's available. 

Changes will come into effect on the suspension of the nationwide lockdown at 6pm Friday and it will be for a duration of 2 weeks.