Cabinet has approved the continuation of a lockdown at Alert Level 3 in Samoa to midnight Tuesday, 5 April.
The extension was announced by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa yesterday.
There are 182 new community cases taking the total number of active community cases to 1,239.
Fiame said 97 percent of these cases are based in Upolu and three per cent.
There are no cases in the Intensive Care Unit.
“Most of the cases that were isolated in isolation wards at Motootua after developing mild symptoms have been discharged.”
Fiame also said that 70,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive this afternoon.
“This coincides with the plan to commence the mass vaccination of booster doses on Thursday this week in Upolu and on Friday in Savaii.
The vaccination roll out will coincide with the ‘mop up’ campaigns for first doses of the paediatric Pfizer for the 5-11 year old cohort, and second doses for the 11-17 age group and 18 plus.”
‘In rolling out this plan, Cabinet is mindful of the capacity of our frontline workers given the increasing numbers of those who have tested positive and are being isolated. Allowing our frontline workers space to recuperate and to roster their teams with assistance from the health private sector, will ensure continuity of our national COVID 19 response, as well as commitment to other equally important health services such as our national immunization programs to be delivered in a safe environment.
It also provides room for different sectors of the economy, including the private sector and the community to finalize their response plans going forward to reflect the new norm of ‘living with COVID 19’ and identifying the best ways to move forward with the gradual opening of borders.”
Fiame said,” With the rapid surge in new infections, our aim is to slow down transmission and to drive our vaccination to achieve the targeted coverage required for herd immunity. It is clear from clinical evidence that chances of developing acute symptoms of, or likely death from Covid-19 will be minimal with complete vaccination and a booster dose.”
“It is important for all of us to get maximum protection by completing all our vaccinations given the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Samoa.”
“Cabinet has also approved amendments to the current State of Emergency Orders to ensure that our people continue to access essential services and to replenish their food supplies.”
Essential services that are currently open under level 3 will now open from 6am – 4pm on Tuesday (29th March), Thursday (31st March), Saturday (2nd April) and Tuesday (5th April).
The scheduled dates for the roll out of the vaccination programmes will be published.
Photo Samoa Govt Caption: Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa