Samoa halts all international flights after NZ alert level extended

Apia, SAMOA — All international air travel to and from Samoa has been temporarily suspended, effective immediately.

The amendment to the State of Emergency includes repatriation flights and coincides with an extension of Level 3 Covid-19 Alert Level in the New Zealand city of Auckland.

Samoa's Prime Minister said the decision was made because of the Covid-19 outbreak in Auckland.

Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said because the second wave of the coronavirus had seen mostly Pacific people infected, the decision had to be made.

He said in the meantime the government would also reassess the medical criteria travelers had been undertaking before boarding flights from New Zealand to Samoa.

Meanwhile the government also signaled a move to crack down on any infringements on restrictions around gatherings.

A maximum of 100 people are allowed to attend churches and funerals.

Tuila'epa said police would patrol the villages to check on the number of people in such services.

The prime minister said if there was a breach, under the State of Emergency, a pastor or minister, could be fines US $7,500.

AMENDED STATE OF EMERGENCY ORDER

SAMOA, August 24 - GOVT. PRESS SECRETARIAT; One new amendment has been added to the State of Emergency Orders for Coronavirus (COVID 19) as prescribed by the constitution and signed into law by le Ao Mamalu ole Malo, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II this evening.

The amendments reads as follows: All international travel to and from Samoa by plane are temporarily suspended except as provided in exceptional circumstances approved by Cabinet.

This Order commences on 26th August 2020.

The rest of the State of Emergency Orders remain in force.

BACKGROUND

In response to the second wave of coronavirus, the New Zealand government have placed the Auckland region on Alert Level 3 until 11.59 pm Sunday 30th August while the rest of New Zealand is at Alert Level 2.

There were 7 new cases of COVID-19 August 25, 2020 bringing the national total of active cases to 129.

The Government of Samoa in collaboration with the Government of New Zealand and Air New Zealand have been coordinating repatriation flights out of Auckland in response to a high demand from Samoan nationals and residents wanting to return home.

Samoan citizens in New Zealand have been called to register their requests to return home with Samoa’s Consular General in Auckland. This week, however, the Consular General issued a notice advising Samoan residents in New Zealand that the registration is being temporarily suspended in light of the situation in New Zealand.

(Sources: RNZ Pacific, Samoa Govt website)