SUVA, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The two South Pacific island countries of Samoa and Tonga have decided on Friday to extend the measures to keep COVID-19 out of their countries.
Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi announced on Friday that the current 14-day state of emergency in Samoa to curb the spread of the deadly virus will be extended for another four weeks.
He stressed that only the extension of the state of emergency for another month will guarantee that Samoa will be free from COVID-19.
"It is only when we don't have any incoming flights for the next four weeks that we can assure that we are free from the virus," he said.
Samoa's current state of emergency to prevent the deadly virus was put in place from March 21 to April 4.
During the state of emergency, Samoa has shut down international travel except for returning Samoan citizens (who will require negative coronavirus tests five days before travelling), and has banned gatherings of five people or more. Public transport such as buses have been temporarily stopped and night clubs and cinemas have also been closed.
Meanwhile, Tonga's Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa also announced on Friday to extend the national lockdown, which was scheduled to end on Sunday, to April 12.
Currently, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Samoa and Tonga.
