(GOVT. PRESS SECRETARIAT); This week, the Disaster Advisory Committee through the Chairman and Director General of Health reminded the Public that the Access to Health facilities throughout Samoa continues to be regulated under the COVID-19 State of Emergency (SOE) Orders.
In a Press Conference statement, the DAC Chairman Agafili Tomaimano Shem Leo reiterated that Samoa remains at Level 1 (Yellow) reinforcing that the State of Emergency (SOE) restrictions are still in effect for Samoa.
For instance, the SOE Orders continue to encourage members of the public to observe social and physical distancing as well as basic hygiene and wearing facial masks in public places.
One of the concerns addressed by the DAC Chairman is the alarming increase of children who are not seeking health assistance at the public hospitals and accompanied by their parents and relatives. This is coupled by excessive visitations including more than one care giver per patient spending the night at the public hospitals, which is in violation of the SOE Orders.
Under the State of Emergency Orders, it clarifies that:
- All persons are prohibited from accessing any health facility unless he or she is seeking medical attention at any health facility
- A person that is admitted to the hospital may:
- only have one carer to tend to him or her; and
- only be visited by 2 people at any one time
Penalties for breaching the these SOE Orders are as follows:
- Individual – $200 (first offence) and $500 for a continuous offence
- Organization or Corporation or similar such legal entity – $5,000 for a first offence, and a fine of $7,000 for a continuous offence.
To view the latest full SOE Orders and penalties, visit the Novel Coronavirus webpage on the Government of Samoa website: https://www.samoagovt.ws/category/novel-coronavirus-covid-19/
For SOE related information contact the National Emergency Operation Centre on 997/32759 and for Health related information contact the Ministry of Health on 8006440
—ENDS—
