The Samoa Government has advised of 5 new COVID-19 positive cases to increase the total to 20 and consequently extended the lockdown in the country by another 72 hours.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa announced the 5 new cases in an address to the nation after 5pm local time on Monday.

Samoa continues to be on Alert Level 3 lockdown which she said will now be extended for another 72 hours. The extended lockdown hours will now run from 6pm Monday to 6pm Thursday.

The announcement by the Prime Minister coincided with the 6pm Monday expiry of the 48-hour lockdown which started on Saturday.

According to Fiame, the 5 new cases are some of the front line workers who were supervising the first 10 passengers whose tests returned positive results last Wednesday.

To enable the public to replenish their supplies, shops, money transfer services as well as markets will be opened on Tuesday and Thursday during the allocated hours of 8am to 2pm.

Samoa's first double digit positive COVID-19 cases were recorded last Wednesday when 73 returning residents flew into the country on a charter flight from Brisbane, Australia with 10 testing positive. 

On Friday another five passengers tested positive to coronavirus to increase the overall infections to 15, which compelled the National Emergency Operation Centre (N.E.O.C.) to recommend to Cabinet that a lockdown be effect to reduce the risks of the infection spreading.

Fiame announced a 48-hour lockdown in a nationwide address on Saturday which went into effect from 6pm and was scheduled to expire at 6pm on Monday to be now extended to 6pm Thursday.

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