Cabinet has approved the downgrading of Samoa’s response to COVID-19 from Alert Level 3 to Level 2 for the next two weeks starting from Tuesday midnight. 

The announcement was made by Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa in a special address to the nation on Monday night.

Some of the changes under Level 2 is the opening hours for businesses from Monday to Saturday from 6am to 2pm while everything remains closed on Sunday. 

Under Level 2 Government ministries and corporations, private sector and civil society are required to implement their business continuity plans under the new norm of living with Covid.  Church services are also permitted but is restricted to 30 people, similarly with funeral services, the Prime Minister said. 

The sale of alcohol is still banned and schools are to remain closed for the duration of the two weeks. 

The Prime Minister’s full speech is below. 

The recent covid-19 update as of 2pm yesterday afternoon confirmed a 164 new community cases taking number active community cases to 2243, 97 percent of cases are in Upolu and 3 percent in Savaii.  

There are 12 cases in the isolation wards in Moto'otua from mild to moderate symptoms, however it’s encouraging to note that 990 cases have recovered. 

As of current the Ministry of Health have confirmed two covid 19 related death, our prayers and condolences are with the families, relatives and children of two persons that have passed away.

These are known consequences of the virus given the experiences of the other countries, in fact due to the transmissibility of covid-19 virus many people will be infected and recovered.

A percentage of those infected will develop acute symptoms and will require hospital care there will be deaths, that is why it is paramount for everyone to be fully vaccinated and continue to adhere to health preventative measures to minimise new infections. 

Cabinet this afternoon consider recommendations from Disaster Advisory Committee on the next steps of our alert levels and in view of our priorities; we shall continue to drive the vaccination programme for the eligible age groups and booster doses which are now underway in Upolu and Savaii.

At the same time important considerations should be made on how to adjust and operate under the new norm of living with covid-19. 

Under these considerations it is unavoidable to make sacrifices, adjust our national organisational and individual plans to do business understand our own context and assess our capacity to respond to challenges ahead of us. 

In this connection cabinet has approved the shift of our alert levels from level 3 to level 2 orange for 2 weeks commencing midnight Tuesday 5^th April to midnight April 19^th 2022. 

Under Level 2 some amendments have been made to S.O.E. to help reduce congestion in public places and continue to drive vaccination and   testing programmes and to assist in slowing down new infections. 

At the same time level 2 provide space for government ministries and corporation, private sector and civil society to operate businesses and deliver services required for the country.  

These amendments include: 

1. Opening hours for all business and shops from 6 am to 2pm Monday to Saturday 
2. No business or shop to open on Sunday 
3. Church services to reopen but restricted to 30 people
4. Funerals restricted also to 30 people
5. Other gatherings are allowed but restricted to 15 people
6. Ferry services between Upolu and Savaii to operate Monday to Saturday under Level 2 requirement
7. Alcohol sale remains prohibited 
8. All schools to remain closed 

In our hope to safeguard children under 12 year old especially those not being vaccinated they are not allowed in public places. 

Other relevant details of SOE orders under alert level 2 will be communicated through government platforms

Under Level 2 government ministries and corporation, private sector and civil society are required to implement their business continuity plan under the new norm living with COVID 19

This includes but is not limited to strict observant of health requirements such as wearing facial masks, social distancing, showing vaccination card, undertaking covid19 tests, health and safety of employees and general public that they serve

Health is wealth and it goes without saying that our health is in our hands 

It remains a priority of government and it should continue to remain our nations responsibility at all levels. 

We thank you for continuing to work closely with the government and for all your prayers. God Bless Samoa, Soifua.