New SOE Orders comes with law binding mandatory strings attached

The new State of Emergency Orders signed into law last night by the Head of State his Highness Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II relaxing the COVID-19 lockdown from Alert Level 3 to Level 2; however it comes with law binding mandatory strings attached.

The public health conditions to be observed during the next two weeks includes mandatory wearing of facial masks; showing of vaccination cards; Social distancing. Furthermore there will be rolling out the vaccination for those who have not started nor completed doses; and Pediatric vaccination roll when vaccination is available; as well as booster shots and PCR testing for people in quarantine.

The Orders also authorizes businesses and government services to resume for the next two weeks until further notice with conditions; for markets including flea markets and fish market or any market which the public have access is permitted to open from Monday to Saturday, from 6.00am to 6.00pm and no one is to sleep overnight at any market place.

The supermarkets and small shops are permitted to open from Monday to Saturday from 6.00am to 8.00pm.

All gaming such as Bingos, Casinos, bonuses and lotto are prohibited, says the Government.

Hotels are permitted for in-house guests for room service and takeaway only from Monday to Sunday and hotel-restaurants may open from Monday to Saturday for non-guests from 6.00am to 8.00pm for takeaway only.

Restaurants are open for take away from 6.00am to 8.00pm from Monday to Saturday, and are closed on Sundays.

All other business are permitted to operate from 6.00am to 8.00pm from Monday to Saturday except for nightclubs and Bars; Fitness centres and Gyms and Gaming Facilities

All businesses must close on Sunday except: Fish Markets from 4.00am to 9.00am and the Fugalei Market from 4.00am to 9.00am.

For Supermarkets and small shops from 12noon to 8.00pm on Sundays and the same hours are extended for the Petrol stations.

Domestic flights services between Upolu and Savaii may operate according to the normal schedule including Sundays and must observe social distancing and must comply with the measures for the preventions of the spread of COVID-19 as advised by the Ministry of Health and National Emergency Operation Centre from time to time.

The Cabinet will review the developments before the end of the two weeks.

Any further developments during the two week Alert Level 2 period will be distributed for the publics’ information when they are available.