SUVA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Samoa downgraded the COVID-19 alert level from Level 3 to Level 2 on Friday as no community transmissions were detected in the Pacific island nation.
According to the Samoa Observer newspaper, Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said the downgrading of COVID-19 alert level was for the next two weeks and this change followed test results for those in managed isolation confirming there was no community transmission in the island nation.
In Samoa, the COVID-19 alert level system has four levels with Level 4 being the highest.
She said the number of infections in Samoa was 27 with those in isolation being asymptomatic. Of the 27 confirmed cases, most were passengers from a recent Australian flight to Samoa.
Last Saturday, the prime minister announced a 48-hour nationwide lockdown in Samoa. The lockdown was extended on Monday and Wednesday to 6 p.m. local time Friday.
She said on Friday that the lockdown in Samoa would be lifted later Friday to allow business activities to resume, but there would be a lot of restrictions and limitations.
All incoming and outgoing flights including repatriation flights with passengers were suspended until further notice with the exemption of cargo flights to bring in supplies.
Samoa reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 in February last year. ■