Reservations about reopening Samoa borders

Apia: Samoa’s Prime Minister says he has deep reservations about reopening borders. Samoa was one of the first to lockdown because of COVID-19, fearing a repeat of last year’s measles epidemic which killed 83 people.

The country’s tourism industry has been hard hit by the shut down, and there has been talk about joining a so-called travel bubble if New Zealand eliminates COVID-19. But in a video recorded by his office, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he’s reluctant to rush into reopening.

“There’s a proverbial saying, once bitten twice shy. We have been hit hard by the measles, and we did not want to be hit again a second time.”