Samoa Extends State of Emergency as It Grapples With 1st Major COVID-19 Outbreak

A general view of Apia in Apia, Samoa on Sept. 6, 2015. Scott Barbour/Getty Images

The Samoan government has extended its state of emergency power through to May 8 as the Pacific nation grapples with its first major outbreak of COVID-19.

Currently, the Pacific nation has recorded over 3,600 cases, with 263 in the last 24 hours. Authorities have reported seven deaths so far.