By Staff Writer
Cabinet has decided to extend the health security lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic for another 4 weeks.
The extension is the third since it started over the last 10 weeks.
Cabinet agreed last night in a special Saturday meeting to keep going, before the 2 June 2020 deadline runs out on Tuesday.
Church activities, sports and the opening of nightclubs and movie theatres are among the notable changes Cabinet made to ease up on the restrictions.
“Churches will still be limited to holding one service on Sunday,” the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, announced after the Cabinet session.
“But they are now allowed to hold Sunday schools for the children, youth activities during the week and to’ana’i for the congregation after the church service.”
Nightclubs are re-opening also from 2.00pm in the afternoon to 10.00 at night from Monday to Saturday with Sunday still a no activity day.
The lone movie theatre in Apia is allowed to open again.
“But it will be up to the staff and management to ensure social distancing is kept, police will be making spot checks.”
All sports are allowed to start up again but it is left up to each sporting body to observe the restrictions orders still in enforced.
Cabinet is adamant that borders will remain closed to international travel with only a few travel exceptions that include special flights to being home stranded citizens.
“The coronavirus pandemic is still spreading around the world so we will continue to keep our borders closed to international travel.
The only exceptions other than for our returning citizens are cargo and med-evac flights.
“We’re also allowing cargo ships to ensure our imported supplies are maintained.”
Tuilaepa is hopeful that a new cure to end the coronavirus pandemic is found with in the month long lockdown extension.
The closure of the borders to international travel for air and sea travel are officially set out as :
(a) For any passengers intending to travel to Samoa, the following considerations and categories of travelers are relevant:
(i) returning residents with returning tickets;
(ii) returning resident students;
(iii) where travel permits or visas for New Zealand have expired;
(iv) the need for essential services for Samoa;
(v) returning resident patients who travelled overseas for medical purposes;
(vi) families with children and persons over the age of 60 years;
(vii) returning resident sports teams and seasonal employees with expired employment contracts;
(viii) general returning residents (tagata lautele); and
(ix) any other special and relevant ground for travel to Samoa.
(b) The following mandatory terms for each passenger apply:
(i) a COVID 19 test has been done within three
(3) days before departure for Samoa;
and
(ii) confirmation of completion of the 14 day quarantine period, before departure for Samoa;
and
(iii) to be quarantined on arrival in Samoa for 14 days:
A. at the places and conditions to be determined Cabinet which may include costs to be borne by the passenger (either partly or fully) whilst in isolation;
B. or
B. at the passenger(s) home as approved by the Director General of Heath upon prescribed conditions determined by him or her for approval for self-isolation quarantine;
(iv) prohibit travel for those attending family fa’alavelave;
(v) for those who have purchased their returning ticket with Samoa Airways Tickets will need to purchase a new returning ticket with Air New Zealand, and liaise with the Samoa Airways on ways to make use of the cancelled ticket; and
(vi) to provide a list of confirmed passengers to Air New Zealand after the usual clearance protocol.