By Staff Writer
People are going to die!
The Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa admitted the heartbreaking truth for Samoa on Monday night in a national address to announce the easing back to CODE ORANGE of the COVID 19 State of Emergency.
Death is the main unspoken fear by the public of the Government’s determined push for the county to ‘Live With COVID’.
There are 2 deaths already related to the pandemic so far and a rapidly increasing count of just over 2,500 confirmed carriers as of today, Tuesday 5 April 2022.
All occurred while under the CODE RED state of emergency in just under the last 3 weeks.
Lockdowns to limit public movements except for daylight shopping hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays stood out as well.
“There will be deaths,” PM Fiame boldly admitted in her public address sums up the latest update on the spread of the COVID 19 pandemic in Samoa..
“Deaths are known consequences of the virus given the experiences in other countries,” she continued, while also reassuring that “many people will be infected and recover”
For those who will develop acute symptoms and will require hospital care, she strongly advised that it is “… paramount for everyone to be fully vaccinated.”
Death is part of the new norm or way of life under the COVID 19 pandemic that the Government now appears to take a hardline on.
The apparent choice is for people to accept and adapt whether they like it or not as the country has to move on.
Fiame felt it is unavoidable for people to make sacrifices as well as make national and individual plans for businesses to continue while considering the challenges of moving ahead.
Samoa will be under CODE ORANGE for the next 2 weeks up to mid-night of 19 April 2022.
Life returns at half pace to the Apia Township with working hours allowed for the private and public sectors from 6.00am-2.00pm, Monday to Saturday except for Sundays to remain closed.
Public gatherings including church services and funerals are allowed but restricted to a set number of people.
Good news for inter-island travel is sailing between Savaii and Upolu are back on again but not so good for alcohol drinkers with the ban continuing on sales. Schools are also still out.
The daily count on COVID cases is now up to 2,566 with 123 new carriers added in the last 24 hours, with the overwhelming majority in Upolu except for Savaii count now at 70 cases.