Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and her Cabinet have publicly expressed condolences to the 13 people, who have lost their battle with COVID-19.
“I am warmed by the fact that as a nation we continue to be united in prayer for the safety and security of all our people.
“Our condolences go out to families of all those whose lives have been lost in their battle with covid,” said the Prime Minister during her special announcement today.
Fiame also confirmed the extension of level 2 under and relaxing of State of Emergency Orders for the next two weeks, including the extension of businesses hours; Government staff back to normal working hours; the ban on alcohol lifted; bars, night clubs re-open; public gatherings extended to 50 people; gaming reinstated; swimming allowed and the curfew is from 10pm to 6am.
She also gave an update on the Covid situation in the Country.
A total of 45,696 rapid antigen tests have been completed and from these tests, 6,296 have tested positive since March 17th 63 cases were detected at the border and together a cumulative total for those that have tested positive is 6,300.
“We have 15 cases and isolation works and four are in in the Intensive Care Unit and that 120 cases have fully recovered with one new death was recorded in the last 48 hours, bringing the total cumulative number of deaths to 13.”
The Prime Minister said the immediate focus is continuing to complete the administration of 2nd doses for those in the age groups 5 to 11 years.
“The status of our vaccination rates is as follows 91.9 per cent of those 18 years and over have completed 2 doses 84.2 per cent of those in the age group 12 to 17 years have completed 2 doses 31.5 per cent of those in the age group of 5 to 11 for those who have completed two doses.”
According to the Prime Minister, 93.8 have completed the first dose since the vaccination rollout program. A total of 59,759 booster doses have been completed to date which is 49.8% of those eligible for boosters in the age group of 18 years and over.
“Even though we continue to see a rise in the number of those infected we need to be vigilant in the implementation of the recommended public health measures as measures the fact that the necessary services need to be accessible to everyone necessitates the review of emergency orders from time to time to time.
“In this regard, the cabinet decided at its meeting of today 19 April that the whole country will remain at alert level 2 Orange for the next 2 weeks,” said the Prime Minister.
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The article has been amended to reflect the accuracy of the Prime Minister’s comments; as the original article is incorrect and we apologise to the Prime Minister and her Cabinet for the inadvertent error, which is deeply regretted.
