A separate COVID-19 testing site for on-duty law enforcement officers has been setup at the Fagalii airport, which currently houses the Police Ministry's Traffic Enforcement Division.

Close to 800 police officers and an additional 100 prison guards in both Upolu and Savai'i have been called in to work to enforce the COVID-19 state of emergency (S..O.E.) orders as the nation went into total lockdown on Saturday.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo, told Samoa Observer that the COVID-19 tests for law enforcement officers began on Friday and will be regularly done at their Fagalii office.

“So far all officers are cleared,” said Auapaau in a telephone interview. “They will be regularly tested after returning from duty…the site at Fagalii was setup on Friday to test our workers.”

Since the activation of Alert Level 3 on Friday midnight, police has so far arrested five people for offences related to alcohol consumption.

Auapaau said the five people arrested overnight (four in Upolu and one in Savaii) were charged for drinking under the influence and one was charged for drunkenness in a public place.

He said the men were detained in custody and later released on Saturday morning when the restrictions were eased from 8am to 2pm.

“We also don’t want to keep them in custody for long due to the latest developments for their own safety,” added the Deputy Commissioner.

During the nationwide lockdown police officers have been placed at different locations like the district hospitals, district posts for zoning and on regular patrol to ensure there are no breaches on S.O.E. orders.

Under S.O.E. orders police officers are to enforce the restrictions and have the authority to charge and issue warnings to people who don’t comply with the regulations.