Samoa

Samoa is now officially on lock down.

Samoa's Prime Minister has given the Ministry of Police portfolio to the Minister of Prisons and Correctional Services, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt.

Samoa is to start fining people and organisations that do not adhere to the new Covid-19 lockdown requirements from midnight tonight.

A total of seven suspected Covid-19 cases are under investigation and awaiting test results in Samoa.

Samoa's prisons commissioner has resigned following a mass breakout from the country's high-security prison last night.

Police in Samoa say they have captured one more prison escapee with 15 of around 29 who staged a mass breakout from the Tanumalala prison last night still at large.

Samoa's police commissioner has warned of prosecution for people breaching State of Emergency orders put in place due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The young woman tested for COVID-19 in Samoa has become the target of online abuse after her identity was revealed in local media.

Test results for Samoa's first suspected case of coronavirus are now expected within three to five days.

It could be 10 to 20 working days before Samoa knows whether or not it has its first case of Covid-19. But tests usually take 3 to 4 days, Australia says.

An Aucklander suspected of having Covid-19 has been placed in isolation in Samoa.

The Manumā Samoa rugby team have gone into self-isolation in Auckland after returning from their Global Rapid Rugby season opener in Perth.

One of two suspects facing a joint charge of conspiring to assassinate the Prime Minister of Samoa has been taken into custody again after breaching his bail conditions.