Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Governor’s current COVID-19 Emergency Declaration easing restrictions on public gatherings — allowing 10 people inside, does not apply to in-door dining at restaurants, which is specifically prohibited under provisions of the declaration, said Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR).

There have been reports from some members of the community of walking into restaurants and seeing patrons sitting down having lunch or dinner and they are questioning whether this is allowed.

One caller to Samoa News says that he contacted the Emergency Operations Center to report an incident after the restaurant owner said indoor dining is allowed.

The current declaration specifically prohibits indoor dining while take-out service is allowed. For public gatherings, the declaration, allows 10 people when inside and 20 outdoors.

During Monday’s COVID-19 Task Force virtual news conference, Talauega was queried by the news media about these reports of in-door dining happening while its specifically prohibited under the declaration. And he was asked if the task force has identified these restaurants and what actions — if any — have been taken.

“The task force has not authorized in-door dining and I too have heard these stories but [have] no confirmation yet,” was Talauega’s response, and reiterated again, to all restaurants that the governor’s declaration “specifically prohibits indoor dining.”

He said it doesn’t matter what the restriction is on public gatherings — referring to the provision allowing public gathering of 10-people indoors — that “doesn’t apply here because there’s a specific prohibition to the indoor dining.”

“And this is the same thing for schools — there is a specific prohibition in in-person classroom instruction. So even though there is a limit of 10 indoors that doesn’t apply,” he pointed out.

“So if restaurants are allowing indoor dining then they are in violation of the governor’s declaration. And upon confirmation, their names will be submitted for potential prosecution by the Attorney General and they also risk being closed down permanently — at least for some time by the Department of Health,” he pointed out.

Talauega, who is also the task force chairman, asked the business community “to work with us, and cooperate. We all want to go out, have dinner at restaurants. We know that you want to have more business, but please bear with us.”

Talauega said at the outset of the news conference, the governor’s plan is to issue a new declaration allowing in-person classroom instruction and ease some restrictions pertaining to public gatherings.