By Staff Writer
Growing public reactions are being troubled by the contradiction of shops opening under a Code Red lockdown as emergency efforts are underway to contain the community spread of the COVID virus.
The main worry is why allow for open public movements while the number of positive cases are continuing to grow from the first one announced on Thursday night to 11 on Friday night and 45 today, Saturday 19 March 2022.
The Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa announced last Thursday a full Code Red lockdown starting on Saturday morning.
The closing of all services except for essential ones were expected until PM Fiame on Friday night announced the opening of shops from 8.00am-2.00pm starting Saturday 19 March 2022 up to Tuesday 22 March 2022 with the exception of Sunday.
Several members of the medical fraternity, who did not want identified, complained it will be difficult to carry out the tracing of people who may have been in contact with the carriers when they are moving around.
Public movements will also spread the virus much quicker with carriers coming into direct contacts with the general public.
HRPP secretary MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi joined the protests at the indecision by the Prime Minister and her Cabinet making one decision and then quickly changing it again.
“I don’t really know if this is a lockdown or not, if it is then it must be lockdown level 2.5,” MP Lealailepule complained.
“What is the point of the lockdown if people are still allowed to move around, possibly spreading the virus and making the situation worse than it is if they stayed home and allow for things to settle down for now?”
The opposition MP suspected that the initial lockdown decision announced by PM Fiame was under medical advice.
He believed, however, that the added variation to keep the shops open was influenced by non-medical persuasion.
“This is the kind of going back and forth indecision that is becoming a trade mark for this Government, and when lives are at stake it becomes a serious concern.
“Tuilaepa when he was Prime Minister would stand firm once a decision is made and granted it made him unpopular he would still stand his ground.”
MP Lealailepule is aware of the ‘live with the virus’ intentions of the Government that also involves opening the travel borders but it is an undertaking he felt is irresponsible if done in haste.
His concerns are the unprotected young population, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions.
Health frontline staff is another of his worries after working full on for the last 2 years without down time to rest up.
The MP insisted that the lockdown should be at least for 5 days to give time for everyone time to assess the situation and the frontline staff a much needed break.
“There was a rush for shopping on Friday while the lockdown was in Code Orange, for people to stock up as they were conditioned from our first lockdown and now suddenly they’ve changed it.
“Many are confused by the new changes from what they are now familiar with from the first lockdown.”
Public fears are also rumbling about the risks of the virus spreading quickly in the community if not properly contained.