By Staff Writer
The National Emergency Operations Committee, NEOC, is to look at ways for Samoa to live with the COVID 19 virus.
The unenviable task for NEOC was directed by Cabinet following its weekly meeting on Wednesday 9 March 2022.
“Time to look at opening our borders,” Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, announced in a press conference following the Cabinet meeting.
NEOC is directed to advise Cabinet on how Samoa can live with COVID, in what PM Fiame believes is a pandemic that is here to stay the same as it is doing around the world.
No time period was revealed on when NEOC is to hand in its report or how comprehensive but it is expected to consider the size of Samoa, workers and the economy among other key sectors like health.
“Doctors will have to come up with answers,” PM Fiame said to hint at where much of the NEOC report attention will focus.
COVID may have distracted the health attention from the real pandemic for Samoa according to the PM which is non-communicable diseases and that is to be factored into the report as well.
The Govt. leader did not say if NEOC is under any pressure to hand in their report before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of independence coming up.
Fiame said the preparations are still very much at the undecided stage with the number of days set aside to official mark the occasion yet to be looked at.
Samoa continues to be protected from any community spread of the virus unlike many of the close neighbours, including American Samoa.
The question many will ponder in response to the set NEOC task in the coming day is whether Samoa is prepared to live with the COVID virus spreading into the community.