By Staff Writer
The Apia Township became a ghost town in the 48 hours Samoa was forced into a COVID lockdown from 6.00pm on Saturday, 22 January 2022 to 6.00pm on Monday 24 January 2022.
The only movements detected during the period were mostly patrolling police officers either on foot or in vehicles at night and in daytime.
Police roadblocks were also strategically placed in a few selected intersections around the township to keep check on any unauthorized public travel.
Only essential and emergency workers in authorized vehicles were allowed onto the road.
A police press statement did confirm more than 50 warnings were issued for breaches of the lockdown since it started.
“Many appeared unaware of the restrictions at the start of the lockdown including a group of youth on their way for a swim at sea today,” a patrolling police officer revealed when asked by Newsline Samoa on Sunday afternoon.
A virus infested flight last Wednesday landed 15 confirmed cases of the pandemic virus from Brisbane, Australia with 10 confirmed on arrival and 5 more last Friday.
It is the first time a large group of confirmed carriers arrived into the country all at once from a repatriation flight.
The Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, declared the lockdown on Saturday morning.
The delay of 2 full days before announcing the decision was received with thankful relief as anxious concerns swelled around the country.
Government also came under fire from the same public reactions for not taking immediate health security actions by calling the lockdown earlier.
The ban on movements that included scheduled travel between the two main islands, public gatherings and commercial activities were enforced under an Emergency Order signed by the Head of State effective for the duration of the lockdown.
Other lockdown restrictions are for everyone to stay home and for a complete border closure.
A repatriation flight from New Zealand last Saturday 22 January 2022 was cancelled shortly after passengers from the Australian flight were tested positive.
Scheduled flights from Australia were under reviewed before the lockdown that effectively banned all travel to and from Samoa both by air and sea.
Newsline Samoa was unable to officially confirm growing public speculations at the time of writing this story that the lockdown maybe extended beyond the 6.00pm deadline today.