Samoa will extend it’s Alert Level 1 State of Emergency status for a further four weeks to 26 July 2022.
This was announced in a press statement issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Hon Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio, also Acting Prime Minister until Prime Minister Fiame returns from overseas travels and CHOGM 2022.
Acting Prime Minister Tuala gave an overview of the current Covid-19 situation in Samoa, and listed the relaxed border restrictions for incoming travelers as Samoa prepares for the re-opening of its borders to the public on 1 August 2022.
MESSAGE FROM ACTING PRIME MINISTER TUALA TEVAGA IOSEFO PONIFASIO
Good afternoon Samoa.
It has been over three months since our first community case, on 17th March, 2022. Our drive for full vaccination and close observation of all health care measures, coordinated by the Ministry of Health and in close collaboration with the Disaster Advisory Committee, districts and villages across Samoa is producing anticipated results, as evidently shown in the decline of number of people affected by COVID 19.
For this, we continue to praise and honour God for His faithfulness, mercy and grace over Samoa.
The latest statistics from the Ministry of Health, as envisaged, showed a downward trend in new infectious, as reported for the period 19th June to 26th June, 2022, 129 people were infected. Our confirmed number of infected people has increased to 14,901, of which 14,776 are community cases, and 125 are imported cases. Only one patient is currently monitored in the isolation ward and none in the Intensive Care Unit. On June, 20th 2022, regrettably, a one year old female died from complications relating to COVID 19. She is our first baby to die from the virus, taking our cumulative number of deaths to 29.
Our Government once again offer its sincerest condolences to the families of the lost loved ones to COVID 19. We continue to pray for the comforting of the Holy Spirit, for the affected families.
A total of 153,386 COVID tests have been administered and testing are continuing at all the health centres and hospitals. The booster vaccination of 12 to 17 years old has started, as well as the second booster for 18 years old and above. Vaccination remains our best defence against the severe complications of COVID 19.
We therefore continue to encourage all those who continue to doubt vaccination, and have not done or completed their vaccination, including a booster, to visit the nearest hospital to get vaccinated. We are close to acquiring full herd immunity for Samoa, to protect our families and especially the under 5 year olds, who are not yet eligible for COVID 19 vaccines.
As widely reported, we will reopen our borders for International travels from 1st August, 2022 and the Ministry of Health continues to lead the coordination of safety and health regulations for travellers to Samoa. Government continues to encourage the observation of health measures as surety of the safety of our country.
In this regard, Cabinet has approved the continuation of Samoa under alert level 1 (yellow) for the next four weeks, commencing from midnight of 28th June to midnight of 26th July, 2022.
Cabinet has also approved the following Health Travel Advice for arriving passengers to Samoa.
- All passengers are required to wear face masks at all times;
- All passengers must fill in the arrival Health declaration form in flight and provide a local phone number and email/Facebook address;
- All passengers arriving into Samoa with a negative test, are NOT required to home quarantine;
- All passengers arriving in to Samoa are encouraged to take precautionary and preventive measures within the first few days of arrival;
- All passengers arriving into Samoa are to arrange and have a supervised Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) done at any health facility on day 5 and report results to MOH on the email provided on the MOH website;
- All passengers with a POSITIVE test after five days, must home isolate for 7 days from the date tested positive with a repeat test done on day 7.
Our efforts in protecting our nation shall continue and therefore calls for the support and assistance of everyone. Most essential to our joint effort is preventing Samoa from new infections, and protecting our families and loved ones. As such, we continue to pray for God’s favour, guidance and protection upon our nation.
We call on our people to continue respecting health measures of protection as we gradually welcome the rest of the world to our home – Samoa.
Finally, I wish the honourable Prime Minister and her delegation a safe journey home.
God Bless and Stay Safe Samoa
Soifua.
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