ACTIVATION OF ZONES FOR SAMOA AS A CRITERION FOR ALERT LEVEL 3
As part of Alert level 3, zones have been activated for Samoa. These zones were strategically developed to help contain the spread of the virus in the community, and to assist with mobilizing services during a nationwide lockdown.
There are eight (8) zones in Upolu and 5 in Savaii. The zones’ features include hospitals, and services such as shops, gas stations, supermarkets, pharmacies, police and fire stations, and ATMs and Banks. The purpose for zoning during a nationwide lockdown is to encourage people to use services that are available nearby their homes and villages, to avoid congestion in urban areas, and to limit contact and exposure.
The COVID-19 virus is clinically proven to be infectious and highly transmissible, especially when people congregate and contact. Limiting contact and people’s movements will help slow and contain the spread of the virus. Zoning therefore encourages the public to access services available in their zones, rather than travelling to urban areas to access the same services.
In the event that relevant services are not available in a zone, such as emergencies requiring transfer to the main hospitals in Upolu and Savaii, banks and pharmacies to name a few, the SOE Orders can accommodate such requests in order to save lives.
The public is advised to use services available in their zones while we are in alert level 3.
