Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two travelers on the Hawaiian Airlines flight on Apr. 28 tested positive for COVID-19, while inter Samoa flights have been reaffirmed to resume with two weekly flights starting today, Wednesday, according to information presented during Monday’s COVID-19 Task Force virtual news conference.

APR. 28 FLIGHT

Health Department clinical service acting director, Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao during the DoH presentation at the news conference gave an update on the Apr. 28 flight from Honolulu that carried 246 passengers — two of whom tested positive and were taken to isolation at the DoH Alternate Care Facility 2 in Tafuna. The positives had their second test on Friday.

According to the DoH presentation, 244 passengers tested negative upon arrival from Honolulu and were released to home quarantine, with their second round of testing yesterday, May 3 and today, May 4 at the drive-thru at the Pago Pago International Airport parking lot.

An Emergency Operations Center (EOC) notice distributed last Thursday, says that all travelers are expected to check-in daily on TalofaPASS throughout their quarantine period.

“Failure to check-in daily on TalofaPASS or return for mandatory retesting will negatively impact your ability to travel in the future,” it says.

Those who test positive during the drive-thru will be informed of their results and those who don’t receive a call are presumed negative and released from Home quarantine on Day 8, which would be May 6th.

EOC said that “TalofaPASS will send you an email to inform you of your Negative test result and that your quarantine has been completed. Clearance letters can also be picked up at your nearest health center.”

INTER SAMOA FLIGHTS

Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale confirmed the resumption of inter Samoa flights with two flights per week on Wednesdays and Fridays. The first one is set for today, Wednesday. He said there would be 28 passengers per day on the outbound flight and the same number of travelers on the incoming flight.

“There will be two flights every week... until there are some other changes and issues that come up,” he said. “The idea is to get back to some sense of normal travel operations between Samoa and American Samoa.”

“And the same thing is happening with the flights between American Samoa and Hawaii. We’re moving towards normalizing those processes so that our people can have more freedom,” he noted.

According to the DoH presentation on travelers entering from Samoa, all passengers must register on the ASG’s TALOFAPASS websystem https://talofapass.as.gov — five days prior to departure and upload a copy of the travelers’ COVID-19 vaccination card and valid travel documents; and apply for an Entry Permit and OK Board.

Travelers 5 years and older must be fully vaccinated — fully vaccinated meaning 14 days prior to travel. A negative test is required 27 hours prior to departure and the information uploaded to the TalofaPass.

Another entry requirement is that travelers complete the Health declaration questions on TalofaPass and this needs to be completed 24 hours before departure. “Post Quarantine 72 hours” before travel to American Samoa is also required.

Upon arrival in Pago Pago, travelers will be tested and physical examination will be conducted by a DoH physician.

Travelers who test positive will undergo 10-days isolation, while those who are negative have a 5-day quarantine, according to the DoH presentation.

For travelers entering Samoa, there were no new updates at press time, but the Samoa Ministry of Health announced last week that it has modified the “Travel Advisory for American Samoa Only” as of Apr. 27 and the advisory is for “air travel only”. Travelers are reminded that they must wear masks inflight and on arrival.

According to the advisory, all passenger’s are advised to communicate straight to the Samoa Health Authorities at least 21 days before planned travel time by emailing enquiries@health.gov.ws (or samoahealth.travelenquiries@gmail.com) for clarification pertaining to this travel advise.

It also says that all travelers will be assessed on a case-by-case basis before being granted permission to travel to Samoa. A passenger holding a valid airline ticket to Samoa has been pre-approved by the Samoan Government to travel.

“Only Samoa Residents/ Citizen, essential workers and those approved for medical and visa clearance are allowed to enter Samoa,” the advisory said.