Close to 180 warnings were issued by the Ministry of Police and Prisons during the lockdown with most of them relating to people driving during lockdown and not possessing vaccination cards or wearing face mask.

The Deputy Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo said street vendors were also called out by police for breaching state of emergency (S.O.E.) Orders which are part of Alert Level 3 restrictions.

“Some 174 warnings were issued in total; 75 issued in the Savaii and 99 in Upolu,” said Auapaau. “Majority of the warnings issued by Police to members of the public is for driving during lockdown, we also have street vendors still on the streets and others don’t have on them vaccination cards and masks.

"Aside from enforcing S.O.E. Orders police are also monitoring other criminal activities.”

The Deputy Commissioner said another common offence during the restrictions include drinking in public places and driving under the influence of alcohol.

On Tuesday night he said police charged four other individuals for assault in relation to a domestic dispute while intoxicated.

There are close to 900 men and women in uniform together with prison guards engaged in the operation to ensure the nation abides by the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Police are posted not only out in different districts, hospitals but are also patrolling the roads.

Meanwhile, Auapaau said four police officers have already tested positive to COVID-19 and they had to be pulled out of active deployment.

He said two of these police officers are isolating at one of the areas designated for officers who return positive tests, while one prison guard is self-isolating at the St. Therese facility and the finance officer has gone home to quarantine.

Police undergo daily testing for COVID-19 at the Fagalii airport which is the office of the Police Traffic Enforcement Division.