Travel to Samoa set to resume as soon as policy is put in place

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The COVID-19 Task Force is planning to re-open travel between the two Samoas and the Health Department is working with their counterparts in the Independent State on travel policy protocols.

DoH clinical service acting director Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao, announced the proposed plan during the department’s presentation at Monday’s task force virtual news conference saying that before inter Samoa travel resumes, there needs to be policy in place for travelers to and from Samoa.

She said DoH and Samoa’s Ministry of Health were to meet that Monday afternoon via Zoom, to discuss policy for travelers. And the hope is to finalize plans this week.

DoH, during its presentation shared, some of the planned requirements for entry into the territory. For example, with the ongoing COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, American Samoa shall limit the number of travelers from Samoa to 40 per week.

Regarding pre-travel requirements, all travelers intending to travel to American Samoa are advised to begin making arrangements with the American Samoa Government at least 7 days before the planned travel date. And all travelers must meet the following requirements:

•           Register on TALOFAPass https://talofapass.as.gov and upload a copy of travelers’s COVID-19 vaccination card and valid travel documents (e.g. passport, Certificate of Identification) 7 days before departure;

•           Apply to the American Samoa Immigration Office for Entry Permit and OK Board at www.legalaffairs.as.gov; and

•           Complete DOH Health Clearance Form (must be signed by a licensed Physician in Samoa within one week of travel).

The task force emphasized that DOH Health Clearance and Immigration Entry Permit and OK Board must be granted prior to travel from Samoa to American Samoa.

Travelers from Samoa must wear a face mask upon arrival in the territory and DOH will prepare a directive for Quarantine/Isolation to be signed by travelers. Before entering the Immigration and Customs area, the traveler will be tested — if negative may proceed but if positive, will be transferred to supervised Isolation. The positive cases will be Isolated for 10 days and all other travelers will be quarantined for 5 days.

DoH and the task force will provide updates once everything is finalized. DoH shared the same presentation on the proposed inter Samoa plan during a government briefing earlier in the morning.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lauvao said DoH is changing the “quarantine/isolation directive” policy, as the number of positive cases in the territory declines. For those who are quarantined at home, it will be five days and for those given an isolation directive, its 10-days.