By Staff Writer
Police watch on many of the COVID 19 pandemic restrictions should breath in relief with the easing of the State of Emergency down to Level 1.
Bans like public gatherings, travel, children under12 in public and more are off.
Daily monitoring of crowd gatherings in several key spots in Apia kept the police constantly on the move while restrictions were on.
The Seasonal Workers kept the space around the ACC multi-storey building busy with people waiting around slowly building into crowds.
The fishmarket at Savalalo was another favourite gathering spot where people rest and have their food when it was supposed to be off bound to the public.
Police regular town patrols made repeated appeals to the public for their support to keep everyone safe from the risks of the pandemic virus.
Police filed more than 30 charges for violation of emergency restrictions.
At Level 1 the police no longer have to worry about the size of gatherings or making sure the markets, supermarkets, small stores, petrol stations and pharmacies are keeping to required opening hours.
Ironically, the policing workload may ease in some areas but added in others with schools starting up and children returning to the classrooms.
Nightclubs and bars are opening up again.
The wet season, however, has brought added anxieties for the police not just on dry land but out at sea where conditions have been rough with bad weather.
Lives have already been lost prompting a police warning call for the public to take extra care when out at sea.
Two young male swimmers drowned recently in rough conditions while out swimming at sea at Samalaeulu.
Police diving team were able to recover one of the bodies while struggling under heavy swell and strong currents.
Heavy rains have left many of the rivers flooded and the concern is for people to be more safe conscious around many of the risk areas.
Slippery roads are among the main risk concerns police are urging the traveling public to be more aware of.