Alert level 1

Fiame has also announced easing of some restrictions with the downgrading of the alert level.

There has been a report of a death taking the total number of Covid-19 related deaths to 26.

The reopening of schools continues this week with the resumption of all primary schools while all early childhood education resume in July.

International travels continue to operate on requirements approved earlier this month and the number of flights to Samoa from next month will shift to daily flights with the complete opening of borders on 1 August.

“After careful consideration of our current situation with regard to the revised Alert Levels matrix and the progressive achievement of our vaccination rates, Cabinet has decided to move our SOE Orders to Alert Level 1, colour coded Yellow,” Fiame said this afternoon.

Some of the main conditions that will now apply under Level 1 include:

The prevention measures include wearing a mask in public at all times, using proper hand hygiene, keeping a distance of two-metres apart from other people and staying home if you’re ill.

The Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday that 10 returning Samoans from Australia including an 11-month-old toddler have tested positive for Covid-19.

The positive tests results will be sent to New Zealand on the earliest flight to determine if they had contracted the Delta or the Omicron Covid variant.

Things will be just about back to normal for Kiwis after the move to level 1, with social distancing no longer required and no more limits on gatherings - but the border will remain closed to non-New Zealanders.

Hospitality providers will no longer have to ensure guests are seated and only served by one waiter, and night clubs will be able to fully open, with the Government hoping to control any potential future outbreaks with contact tracing.