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Samoa to re-open borders in August

PM Fiame Naomi Mata'afa
Source: New Zealand Herald

Apia, SAMOA — Samoa will open its international borders from August.

In a special announcement aired on Facebook on Monday night, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said the island nation is set to open its international borders in August and September.

A specific date was not given.

The move is in line with what several other countries in the region, including New Zealand, have done or are planning to do over the next few months as the world adapts to living with COVID-19.

"Cabinet considered the plan for reopening of our international borders," Fiame said.

"Critical to this decision are the current rates of our vaccination programme, amendments to quarantine conditions and the opening of borders of our neighbouring countries like Australia and Fiji; as well as New Zealand in October of this year."

It has been almost seven weeks since COVID was detected in the community in Samoa on March 17; sending the country into a lockdown.

The number of people who have contracted the virus in Samoa has reached more than 9500. Just over 1600 people have recovered, the latest figures show.

A total of 19 people have died with COVID in Samoa.

Fiame's announcement also included the resumption of international flights from this month for all Samoa citizens traveling in for "various purposes", she said, and those who are contracted to work in Samoa