The Government has eased its State of Emergency Orders by increasing the number of people in public gatherings, lifting a ban on alcohol sales and granting the operation of all businesses from 6am to 8pm. 

The announcement was made by Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa Tuesday afternoon (local time) when she extended the Alert Level 2 response for another 2 weeks and announced major changes to the S.O.E. Orders. 

Fiame noted that even though Samoa continues to see the rise of community infections, the country needs to be vigilant in the implementation of its health measures. 

“The fact that the necessary services need to be accessible to everyone this is against the State of Emergency Orders from time to time,” she said. 

In this regard, she said the Cabinet decided at its meeting on Tuesday that whole country will remain on Alert Level 2, Orange for next 2 weeks starting from midnight Tuesday to Tuesday 3 May. 

The following orders have been amended accordingly: 

• Business hours for shops are to be opened from 6am to 8pm Monday to Saturday.
• For Sundays, services will open from 12pm to 8pm
• Opening hours will be from 6am to 8pm after which a curfew will be in place from 10pm to 6am the following day
• The sale of alcohol is opened at hotels, bars, restaurants and shops that are licensed to do so within the opening hours of 6am to 8pm unless stipulated otherwise by the Liquor Board
• Opening of public gatherings for 50 people for indoor settings and 100 for outdoors
• Permitting gaming and related activities for 50 people and in compliance with security and safety measures from 6am to 8pm 
• Opening of all sports and recreational activities considering the set number of people mentioned and in compliance with health related measures
• The organisers are responsible for observing and compliance of all measures at all times
• Swimming is permitted at beaches and rivers during required hours
• All schools will remain closed, learning and teaching to be continued using current platforms
• Children under 12 years old are not allowed in public places
• Allowing of public transport with social distance and other protection measures
• Continue inter-island ferry services observing social distances and other related protection measures
• All border related restrictions to be continue as in the previous SOE orders
• Normal working hours for public sector will resume with strict observant of health measures
• Business owners and organisers of any public gatherings are responsible for compliance with social distance, wearing face masks and other related protections
• All other details will be shared by government in its official releases
• We continue to strongly encourage our country to complete vaccinations, wear face masks, practice social distancing and minimise public movements and gatherings