ZB ZB
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

Samoa to reopen international borders in August - PM Fiame Naomi Mata'afa

Author
Vaimoana Mase, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Tue, 3 May 2022, 10:56AM
Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has announced that the island nation will open its international borders in August. (Photo / Parliament of Samoa)
Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has announced that the island nation will open its international borders in August. (Photo / Parliament of Samoa)

Samoa to reopen international borders in August - PM Fiame Naomi Mata'afa

Author
Vaimoana Mase, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Tue, 3 May 2022, 10:56AM

Samoa will open its international borders from August.

In a special announcement aired on Facebook on Monday night, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said the island nation is set to open its international borders in August and September.

A specific date was not given.

The move is in line with what several other countries in the region, including New Zealand, have done or are planning to do over the next few months as the world adapts to living with Covid-19.

"Cabinet considered the plan for reopening of our international borders," Fiame said.

"Critical to this decision are the current rates of our vaccination programme, amendments to quarantine conditions and the opening of borders of our neighbouring countries like Australia and Fiji; as well as New Zealand in October of this year."

Seven weeks since Covid found in community

It has been almost seven weeks since Covid was detected in the community in Samoa on March 17; sending the country into a lockdown.

The number of people who have contracted the virus in Samoa has reached more than 9500. Just over 1600 people have recovered, the latest figures show.

A total of 19 people have died with Covid in Samoa.

Fiame's announcement also included the resumption of international flights from this month for all Samoan citizens travelling in for "various purposes", she said, and those who are contracted to work in Samoa.

Samoa's Cabinet decided this afternoon to continue the current alert level 2 lockdown for another two weeks - but with some amendments.

Among the amendments is the allowing of students at the National University of Samoa to attend classes again from early this month.

Children at early childhood, primary and secondary schools will also start to see some normality again as schools gradually reopen as part of a plan by the country's Ministry of Education

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you