People in Samoa are panic-shopping and there are long lines for money transfer businesses in the hours before Samoa goes into level 3 lockdown at midnight.
Samoa has recorded its first Covid-19 case from community transmission and the government has activated a level two lockdown, closing schools, bars and nightclubs and cancelling sports games.
It has mandated the use of masks and vaccine passes ahead of a full nationwide lockdown from 12am Saturday.
Apia during an earlier lockdown Photo: Government of Samoa
Commerical banks closed early this afternoon.
From midnight churches are closed, public gatherings are prohibited and inter-island and international travel stops.
A Ministry of Health notice issued last night asked the public to remain calm, be "nice" to health workers, and "not point fingers," noting "we are all in this together."
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa announced last night that a 29 year old woman tested positive for Covid-19 during routine testing before a flight to Fiji.