By Martha Taumata Faavae
Sunday swimming at sea in the villages is putting swimmers at risk of $2000 fines for violation of State of Emergency (SOE) restrictions for COVID-19 safety protections.
The SOE unlawful activities have caught the attention of the disaster co-ordinating national body, NEOC, and it is not very happy with the authority of the village leaders.
“We’ve been getting numerous reports of a growing number of villages where Sunday swimming is becoming regular,” NEOC Chairman Agafili Shem Leo disclosed to the media last week.
“ It’s disappointing to note that the chiefs and orators appear to be treating this SOE restriction lightly.”
Agafili warned that NEOC is going to be very strict with the policing of these restrictions and will not hesitate to take legal actions against the violators.
The Faleolo International Airport is becoming another problem area as well when the passenger terminals are declared out of bounds to the general public during repatriation flights.
“The restrictions are intended for the protection of the general public especially during flight arrivals.
“We can never tell what the risks are with the virus at the terminals with the flight arrivals while the terminal is filled with people.”
Agafili took serious note as well of the security at the 32 selected quarantine sites where the new arrivals are isolated.
The fears are of family members trying to sneak in to be with the new arrivals or vice versa while in quarantine.
Confirmation of a 16-year-old male who tested positive as a true carrier of the virus on arrival from the US has pumped up the alert levels for safety protections in the past three weeks.
NEOC is not taking any chances by tightening up the SOE restrictions to ensure there is no slacking in keeping Samoa safe.