COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa

Infections from a COVID-19 pandemic in Samoa have not yet become known. The island nation of Samoa is one of the few countries on earth where there are no COVID-19 infected people (as of June 10, 2020).

background

The COVID-19 pandemic is occurring as part of the global COVID-19 pandemic that began in China in December 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic affects the novel disease COVID-19 . This is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the Coronaviridae group and belongs to the group of respiratory diseases . From March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the outbreak of the novel coronavirus as a global pandemic .

Location of the islands

Location of Samoa

Samoa is an island nation in Polynesia that encompasses the western part of the Samoa Islands. The island nation is located in the southwestern Pacific, northeast of Fiji . The largest islands are Savaiʻi with 1708 square kilometers and Upolu with 1118 square kilometers, on which the capital Apia is located, plus the inhabited islands of Manono , Apolima and six other islands, on which there are only smaller holiday complexes.

The central hospital and also the seat of the Ministry of Health is the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital near Motootua near the capital Aipa on Upolu, which is connected to a network with other hospitals on Samoa. The Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital is located on Savaiʻi .

course

First measures

Samoa restricted its entry requirements for foreigners as early as February 2020, when eight Samoan people who wanted to re-enter on February 13 were turned away. The reason given was that on their return journey they stopped in a country that was classified as “high risk”. This classification was made during her flight

After a person from New Zealand with a suspected COVID-19 flown from Fiji to Samoa, the government tightened the regulations and also banned all foreign entries from there. It was also advised that anyone planning to come to Samoa for birthday parties, weddings, reunions, funerals, conferences and sporting events should give up travel planning, President Tuilaepa Malielegaoi . On March 21, 2020, the government declared a national emergency, which should initially apply for 14 days. With this measure, the border was closed to all incoming foreigners, except for Samoans. More than five people are not allowed to gather in Samoa, this also applies to the use of public transport and night clubs, restaurants and cinemas remain closed until further notice. Street vendors have to cease their activities and people over the age of 60 are only allowed to leave their homes for medical reasons.

Travel to Savai'i Island is only allowed three days a week. Government employees who perform public services that are not essential to life will have their working hours reduced. Violations of the ordered measures can be punished with a fine of up to 3400 US dollars or with imprisonment of up to two years.

On April 20, it became known that nearly 300 people have been arrested by the Samoan police since the state of emergency was declared for failure to comply. Reasons for this were, for example, that the maximum number of passengers in buses was exceeded, street vendors continued to offer their products and shops did not adhere to the specified opening times. Two supermarket owners were fined $ 74. Most of these crimes occurred in Apia and Savai'i.

Relaxations

Public life

Easings were announced on May 30, 2020 that will apply from June 3. Violations of the rules result in fines. There are new rules for air and sea traffic, whereby travelers must present certificates that they are COVID-19 free or have been in a 14-day COVID-19 quarantine. 5 people are allowed to attend birthday parties, weddings, funerals, conferences and sporting events. Going to church is possible again, but only on Saturdays and Sundays if a distance of 2 meters to other people is maintained. Night clubs and bars can only be open from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday, not on Sundays. Hotels can only be opened from Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., entertainment of any kind is prohibited in hotels. Theaters may be opened during normal business hours, provided that they are two meters apart. Restaurants are allowed to open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Swimming on the beach is allowed, except on Sundays. Buses run during normal traffic times, except on Sundays. The only thing that ships do not operate between the islands is on Sundays. For older people over 60 there are special rules in public transport.

Markets, shops

Markets and fish markets can only be opened from Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Supermarkets open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Smaller shops are open during normal business hours. Street trading is prohibited until further notice. Alcohol sales are only allowed from Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Classes in schools, which began again on May 4, 2020, will remain permitted until further notice.

Hospital visits

People over 60 years of age have to stay at home and are only allowed to leave for medical treatment. Sick people in hospitals may be visited by a maximum of two people.

Web links

• World Health Organization (WHO): Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports on the website www.who.int (English)
• Johns Hopkins CSSE : Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases. (English)
• Website World of Meters : real-time data of the Corona virus pandemic (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Which countries have not reported any coronavirus cases? Al-Jazeera, June 10, 2020.
2. ↑ Pulmonologists on the net: Covid-19: Causes . Online at www.lungenaerzte-im-netz.de. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
3. ↑ Tagesschau: "Deeply worried". WHO speaks of corona pandemic . March 11, 2020. Online at www.tagesschau.de. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
4. ↑ Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital . In: Electives without a date, accessed April 21, 2020
5. ↑ Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson: Samoa turns away eight of its own citizens over coronavirus fears . In: The Guardian of February 13, 2020
6. ↑ Vaimoana Tapaleao: Coronavirus: Samoa announces more travel restrictions after first suspected case . In: RNZ from March 20, 2020
7. ↑ Tonga and Samoa declare states of emergency because of COVID-19 . In: RNZ of March 21, 2020
8. ^ Tess Newton Cain, Dan McGarry: Coronavirus in the pacific weekly briefing : In: The Guardian of March 24, 2020
9. ↑ Close to 300 arrested in Samoa for breaking Covid-19 orders . In: RNZ from April 20, 2020
10. ↑ AMENDED STATE OF EMERGENCY ORDERS FOR CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) 30th May 2020 . In: Government of Samoa, May 30, 2020