schools closed

The acting Chief Executive Officer at the Ministry of Education, Tuumatavai Vau Peseta- Afamasaga said teachers of all schools currently being used as vaccination sites are to continue working from home.

This arrangement will remain until vaccinations are done and arrangements for disinfecting school buildings are completed.

In a statement Tuumatavai said teachers who have tested positive must remain at home.

The Public School System says two of the new cases relate to the Chacha Oceanview Middle School and Francisco M. Sablan Middle School.

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp has yet to state where the third case was identified.

Effective from today, Governor Ralph Torres has directed the temporary closure of all public and private schools and colleges to mitigate against community spread.

As contact tracing in relation to the cases swung into action, Mr Torres has reassured the public that the CNMI would be able to contain the outbreak.

In a report released last night by the Disaster Management Office and the Disaster Advisory Committee, following Cyclone Gita, people's safety was a priority in Samoa.

The Samoan government decided on Monday night to extend the Declaration of Disaster imposed during Gita for another 48 hours.

"Overall, the restoration of affected lifeline services and clearance of debris are progressing well," the report said.

It said there was access throughout the country and maintenance of roads, drainages and road reserves were well underway.