Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In extending his original State of Emergency Declaration due to the global spread and threat of the coronavirus, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga revealed the government’s new three color-coded threat system, which is effective Monday, Mar. 23rd, with Code Blue.

As reported Thursday in Samoa News, Code Blue is the low-level threat risk, with no confirmed COVID-19 case but public gatherings are banned, including bingo games and other restrictions will be implemented — starting this Monday.

CODE-YELLOW

If or once American Samoa gets one-confirmed case, the threat level will move up to Code-Yellow, which “will continue heightening restrictions to slow the spread of the disease within the territory,” the governor’s extended order states, which also notes that a “Territorial Curfew of 9 p.m. will be imposed” at this threat level.

With Code-Yellow, all public and private schools, daycare centers and the American Samoa Community College, will be closed until further notice, while the Education director is to develop and implement plans to continue education for students studying from home.

Samoa News understands that this process has already started at the Education Department and includes assessing the availability of internet at home for all students, because not all families in the territory have access to the internet. (See separate story on ASCC’s coronavirus action plan in today’s edition.)

Also under this threat level, all ASG departments are to schedule 50% staffing level and/ or provide flex accommodation. Tier One employees will work on Monday/Wednesday; Tier Two employees will work Tuesday/Thursday. (ASG has already identified employees in these two-tier levels).

Additionally, all ASG employees will be compensated for 40 hours per week, while first responders and essential personnel will be staffed for 24/ 7 operations, according to the governor, who noted that all ASG business travel is suspended at this threat level (Code-Yellow).

Regarding travel, the governor said travel restrictions are increased and all travelers will require an OK Board to enter, and entry permits for foreign nationals will continue to be suspended.

OK Board requirements will include submission of copies of itinerary, passport (including stamped pages), health clearance, and payment of a $50 fee. Work related OK Boards will be considered but applications must include verification from employer, according to the governor.

US citizens and US nationals that are legal residents and legal alien residents are to show proof of American Samoa residency through local ID, hospital ID, or utility bill. Proof of residency will exempt them from the OK Board process. All requests are to be routed through the Attorney General’s Office.

Other restrictions under Code-Yellow:

•     community awareness continues to be the focus and the public is encouraged to maintain hygiene practices;

•     families will be encouraged to isolate with one-designated family member to go to the store;

•     all businesses will only be allowed to operate from 6a.m to 3p.m;

•     all restaurants will be allowed to provide take-out only and no dine-in service;

•     Hope House facility and admitted patients at LBJ will be closed for visitation (Samoa News notes that House Hope has closed public access to the facility effective Mar. 17th);

•     unnecessary travel to affected areas will be limited;

•     social distancing promotion continues; and,

•     The ASG Commerce Commission is to provide plans and emergency regulations for limited capacity and implementing social distancing in public transportation.

CODE-RED

According to the governor’s extended order, Code-Red is the highest threat level and it’s activated when there’s a “severe” spread of the virus in the territory, and “major protective measures will be enforced.” More restrictions will be activated at that time, such as all businesses will only be allowed to operate from 6a.m. to 12p.m.

Additionally all air and sea travel will be suspended, while ports of entry will be closed except for military and approved air or sea cargo, with “all public gatherings completely shutdown.”

Furthermore, all ASG operations will be suspended except for first responders and essential employees.

OTHER ISSUES

“All stakeholders play a critical role in supportive positive community action,” according to a statement in the “Threat Level Matrix” document included with the governor’s extended order.

It encourages the involvement “of our people to lend support and assistance” to healthcare professionals, first responders, traditional leaders, private sector and faith based organizations “to help operationalize this Pan and Threat Matrix by adhering to those requiring self-quarantine at home or isolation quarantine facilities for a period of 14-days.”

This includes ensuring that those individuals and families continue to have access to food, water, medicines and other essential items or services, it says.

It also says that non-government organizations as well as other community groups such as religious denominations and ethnic-specific groups will help address the specific needs of vulnerable and elderly communities.

According to the Threat Matrix document, government agencies will coordinate the mobilization of government resources, assets and finances to support the nationwide response.

ASG Health Department ad LBJ Medical Center will lead the health response, in collaboration with relevant community and international partners, while the private sector will work alongside with government agencies to minimize disruption to business continuity.

In his extended order, the governor said LBJ lacks the physical capacity to appropriately respond to epidemics and pandemics and “must now divert operating resource to address this emergency need thus causing the potential for medication and health supply shortages and expending the scope of the health catastrophe.”

He notes that American Samoa is excluded from receiving COVID-19 test-kits, which are distributed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As previously reported by Samoa News, the governor has appealed to the federal government for test-kits for American Samoa.

DOH CLINICS

Also starting Monday, Health Department clinics at the Tafuna Community Health Center and Fagalau will see patients by appointment only. “To practice social distancing and decrease mass gathering,” DOH Director Motusa Nua is asking the “public to visit only if you have an appointment,” according to a DoH statement on Tuesday.

Tafuna Community Health Center 684-699-6380; Fagaalu 684-633-0821 and Fagaalu Well Baby Clinic 684-633-3226