Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA —  Coronavirus-free American Samoa continues under Code-Blue, while public gatherings, “except for religious services”, remain prohibited between 12 midnight and 5a.m., according to Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga’s new COVID-19 declaration, dated Mar. 19th, and effective from Mar. 20th to Apr. 18th.

The new declaration, released Friday night by the Governor’s Office, also notes that COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered by the Health Department and LBJ Medical Center.

And in an effort to get residents vaccinated, DoH last Friday morning issue a brief statement saying that: “Free bus rides, roundtrip, are available” to get to the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium and the DoH Tafuna Health Center “for your COVID-19 shots.”

The new bus ride initiative on Tutuila started last Friday and all other vaccination days on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, starting at 7am from Tula — far East side and Fagalii — far West side.

The buses with COVID-19 banners on them will transport individuals to the Lee Auditorium and the Tafuna Health Center, vaccination sites, “free of charge”. They return for the same pick-up every 2 hours. Call DoH hotline 219 for more details.

For this week, the Lee Auditorium site will be vaccinating today and Friday, and not on Wednesday, which is the Island Wide Math competition.

PEOPLE ENTERING THE TERRITORY

No major changes were made under the new declaration. A few minor changes were made to the provision for a person wanting to enter the territory.

Instead of the traveler “contacting” DoH — as stated in the previous declaration — the new one requires the person to register with the DoH website — americansamoapublichealth.com — at least 10 days prior to travel and provide documents required by the Health director.

Also applicants must provide DoH with a negative COVID-19 test made within 72 hours of travel; health clearance from a physician; and travel history for the last 30-days.

Also required is disclosure if the traveler has ever tested positive for COVID-19 “or knows that they have been in recent close contact with a person who has tested positive within the past 4 weeks”.

Other conditions, which remain in place is that the traveler submits to a quarantine of up to 15-days upon arrival in the territory, and that participants in the American Samoa repatriation programs may be required to fulfill additional requirements.

VESSELS ENTERING

Requirements for vessels entering the territory remain in place and no person is allowed to disembark without prior approval of the governor and lieutenant governor. A new add-on to this provision, states that residents of American Samoa on such vessels are allowed to disembarked, but the residents “will need to comply with instructions from the Department of Health based on medical guidance.”

FLIGHTS

For all scheduled flights in and out of American Samoa, they also remain suspended and that the Governor and Lieutenant Governor may authorize flights based on the needs of the territory. And passengers of any permitted flight must comply with entry requirements and any additional requirements contained in the governor’s or lieutenant governor’s written authorization.

With flights suspended between Honolulu and Pago Pago, the next repatriation flight from Hawaii is scheduled for Apr. 15th — according to news released last week from the Emergency Operations Center, following a COVID-19 Task Force meeting.

PUBLIC GATHERING AND BUSINESSES

Also remaining the same is that public gatherings, “except for religious services”, are prohibited between 12 midnight and 5a.m. Furthermore, this provision, does not affect the authority of village councils to enact regulations imposing curfews or restricting public gatherings, pursuant to local law.

However, bingo games for fundraising purposes remain suspended.

Restriction on business’ operating hours remain the same as well — from 5a.m to 12 midnight and this is also the same restriction for public transportation — taxis and aiga buses.

However, StarKist and its direct documented business affiliates, water production, and oxygen gas production are exempted. And buses under contract with StarKist are also exempted.

Click on attachement to download pdf version of the declaration