(ANSA) - SYDNEY, 22 JAN - The islands of Kiribati and Samoa entered lockdown today after a surge in infections from Covidd due to arrivals from abroad that interrupted two almost free years from the pandemic.
As of earlier this month, Kiribati had not reported a single case of Covid, while Samoa had only recorded two since the start of the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization.
Now the authorities of both countries have been forced to put in place a series of restrictive measures after dozens of passengers on a flight to Kiribati from Fiji, the first to arrive in the country since the reopening of the borders, are positive results for the virus. And in Samoa the restrictions are lifted after cases linked to a repatriation flight from Brisbane have risen to 15, Prime Minister FiameNaomi Mata'afa said.
The restrictions will increase starting tomorrow and all infected people, believed to be affected by the Omicron variant, have been quarantined, he added. The capital of Kiribati, which is home to nearly half of the country's 120,000 inhabitants, will be subjected to restrictions after registering its first homes among the inhabitants.
The measures that have come into force require residents to stay indoors except to get food or health care.
It is not clear how long the lockdown will last, but a previous announcement speculated until next Thursday.
According to WHO data, about 62% of the population of Samoa is fully vaccinated, while about 34% of the population of Kiribati is double vaccinated.
(HANDLE).