Changes in testing and vax mandates coming up for travelers from US

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With weekly flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago starting in June, the COVID-19 Task Force and the Health Department will reduce COVID testing prior to departing for American Samoa to only one —  but it has mandated for travelers 12 years and older to get the booster dose #1, according to the DoH presentation at yesterday’s task force virtual news conference.

Effective June 2 for travelers from Hawai’i, DoH will require only one negative COVID-19 test 72-hours prior to departure for American Samoa. Passengers who travel from outside the U.S — meaning, traveling to the territory via the U.S — must have had the 72-hour test done in the U.S.

Also effective June 2, is the “mandate” of booster dose #1 for travelers 12 years and older. And these travelers are reminded that passengers in the same age group must be fully vaccinated as a requirement to enter the territory.

Other requirements remain in place such as registering on the ASG TalofaPass websystem and test results and other required documents are to be uploaded to TalofaPass.

And all travelers will be tested upon arrival at Pago Pago International Airport.

Those who test positive will be placed in 10-day isolation — 5 days at a DoH supervised facility and the other 5-days at home.

Those who test negative will be instructed to go directly home for self-monitoring and check-in daily for 5 days on TalofaPass.

Asked for an explanation behind the decision for only one-test 72 hours prior to departure for the territory — DoH clinical service acting director, Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao said that this is due to “a lot of issues and a lot of hardship our people” face with getting the tests done and that it’s been difficult for travelers to find a place to get an appointment to be tested in the U.S prior to travel here.

She also noted that Hawaiian Airlines starting in June will operate weekly flights.

As for the booster dose #1, Dr. Lauvao pointed out that the studies have been done all over the world including the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the “booster dose, especially booster #1 will protect you from getting severe infection, hospitalization” and even dying.

“And plus, COVID-19 is already here and we’re dealing with the BA.1 and BA.2 variant,” she said.

At the outset of the news conference, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, who is also the task force chairman, noted that yesterday marks the 84th day since the community spread of the deadly virus was reported in American Samoa.

“We have seen the number of positives cases drop significantly, the number of severe cases ending up at LBJ also dropping,” he said. “Although we’ve lost loved ones to COVID and we’ve experienced many of our community members inflicted by the virus, we’re thankful to God, that a lot of us have been spared and those who have been infected, are now fully recovered.”

Also during the news conference, DoH reported that of the 140 individuals tested on May 15 at DoH clinics and LBJ Medical Center, only one-positive case was confirmed. And also as of May 15, the total of COVID-19 related deaths remains at 30.

According to DoH data, total cumulative count — as of May 15 — stands at 5,988 cases since the outbreak was first reported on Feb. 21 on Tutuila.

Currently in Manu’s there are 9 cases at Faleasao village and 6 at Tau village on Ta’u island in the Manu’a island group — whose total cumulative count is at 47. Ofu and Olosega islands remain COVID-free.

Out of 100 active cases, Tafuna has the highest number of active cases at 26, followed by Ili’ili with 10.

Samoa News will report in tomorrow’s edition on other issues from the news conference.

This Health Department chart shows the active COVID-19 cases and the number in each village as of May 15.