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ASG sets requirements for reopening non-essential businesses

Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale
It only works if we all “abide by a code of trust, of self responsibility”
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “There are not enough government employees to go out and manage and regulate every single business, every single funeral [service] on this island,” said Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, during Monday’s news conference.

“So we will set the requirements, set the rules and we will rely on you the people of American Samoa to act like good citizens, you the business owners to act like a good business owner, making sure that your business is open safely and that you abide by the requirements,” he said.

Talauega, who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative, was responding to a media question during the news conference based on queries from the some businesses and the community members who remain concerned with ASG policies on requirements for non-essential business having to submit a plan in order to reopen — while other businesses are operating without the many restrictions. 

It has also been raised in various social media platforms, why there are so many restrictions on non-essential businesses in order to reopen and also questions on restrictions placed on funerals and church services.

Talauega reminded the community of restrictions under the current COVID-19 Emergency Declaration on public gatherings and non-essential businesses. And that the declaration also provides a process for businesses to apply in order to be given permission to operate.

He encouraged the affected businesses to submit a request along with a plan on how they intend to open their businesses. He also summarized the process after a plan is submitted.

“Give some time to the [COVID-19] Task Force and Health Department to review the plan, then they’ll call you and then visit the location and walk through making sure everything is in order,” he explained the process.

Once that’s done, the business owner will sit down with DoH and the local Homeland Security Department (ASDHS) and draw up the final plan to re-open the business.  

“The final step is a certificate from the Health director allowing you to open your store, your business” and the business must abide by all the requirements — for example, full vaccination of both employees and customers, wearing masks and social distancing, he said.

According to Talauega, there will be “unannounced” site visits by DoH and ASDHS teams, to ensure that the businesses remain in full compliance — in accordance with their plan — and if not, that business is closed.

ASG documents as of early this week show that at least two businesses were issued stop-orders to close for non-compliance and will need to go through the re-certification process.

During the news conference, Talauega pointed out that “as we do with all steps in this response, we rely on the advice of our medical community” and the reason for the requirements needed for non-essential businesses — such as spa and message parlors, salons/barber shops — to prepare the appropriate plan so they are allowed to reopen.

On the issue of funerals, Talauega said these are allowed to operate, as long as they follow the requirements — 10 people indoors and 20 for outdoors. “Funeral must be done within four-hours after it started and social distancing and face masks are required,” he emphasized.

There have been a lot of questions and complaints on prohibition of church services, but Talauega said church services are not prohibited, so long as the services are limited to 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors.

“As I had mentioned in other press conferences, the idea of us moving from COVID Zero to COVID Safe — learning to live with COVID — the whole thing only works if we all abide by a code of trust, of self responsibility.”

Again, “we encourage all businesses, those in the prohibited [non-essential] category to submit your plan to reopen, and work with us. We want you to open your business because, once you open your business that means more opportunity for our people to get your services, more opportunity for our government to get tax revenue.”

“So it’s not that we are trying to stop businesses from operating. I want all businesses to operate, but to operate safely,” he said.