COVID-19 quarantine

Samoa Observer reports Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o saying 74 percent of the total cost is for accommodation, breakfast and lunch for 6,697 passengers who have been repatriated to Samoa to date.

All passengers pay air travel costs and for dinner under the State of Emergency orders.

Mulipola said the priority is to protect our people but it will not stop Cabinet from looking at options that will prioritize safety and reduce the cost on the Government budget.

The first group among the 960 players, coaches and officials isolating at three Melbourne hotels were allowed to leave, with the rest expected to depart by Sunday, Victoria state health officials said.

Players isolating in South Australia state, including Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, were also to be released ahead of an exhibition tournament in Adelaide on Friday.

Players will be free to move around the cities and surrounding regions so long as they abide by local social distancing restrictions.

SHA President, Tupa'i Saleimoa Vaai said it is a temporary relief but it is a blessing in disguise.

“Right now our industry is in a lot of economic pain and the decision by Government to house our stranded arrivals in hotels, is a helping hand reaching out to us in our time of desperate need,” Tupa’i said.

“We have some income circulating in the industry again not just for hotels but for catering services responsible for feeding the detained travellers.”