Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — While ASG travel is suspended to US states and foreign countries affected by the coronavirus, the Health Department has proposed new travel restrictions for flights to and from Hawai’i, and reduced daily flights on the inter Samoa route to combat the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus to American Samoa.

(COVID-19 virus is a new type of coronavirus spreading around the world.)

The proposal was presented by DoH during a briefing late Sunday afternoon followed by another meeting yesterday morning between Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga and DoH along with other cabinet members to finalize final wording of a new travel advisory that will provide new restrictions.

Samoa News understands that Lemanu, the current acting governor, while Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga is off island for a medical check-up, were working with DoH and others to come up with the final language of the new travel advisory.

In particular, is a DoH recommendation pertaining to travel to American Samoa from US states where there are already confirmed cases of the virus. For example, in Washington state, with two confirmed deaths — as yesterday morning.

DoH has raised concerns due to a large Samoan community in the Seattle area, where the deaths were documented, as well as California, where there’s also a large population of Samoans.

At Sunday’s briefing, Health director Motusa Tuileama Nua said a draft of a new travel advisory is completed and already discussed with Lemanu. And the draft provides DoH recommendations for actions to be taken in a new travel advisory to further combat the coronavirus that’s supposed to be released this week.

Regarding “flights to and from Hawaii,” DoH recommends that all travelers from “affected US states” such as California, Washington state, Illinois, and Texas — and “affected foreign countries” entering American Samoa through Hawai’i will be subject to: spend 14 days in Hawai’i and acquire a 3-day health clearance — day 11 of the 14 days — before entry.

Several questions were raised at the briefing from Lemanu as well as other cabinet members pertaining to restrictions placed on travelers from US affected states. Among them, is how the enforcement of the 14-days for these individuals who travel inter-state and don’t require US passports.

Motusa said the US Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention considered passengers traveling inter-state, including Hawai’i, as “low-risk”. However, Lemanu requested that DoH look into CDC policy and regulations to see if it applies to those traveling from US states as well as local residents traveling to affected states.

Regarding flights “to and from Samoa”, DoH is recommending to reduce to 2 flights per day, per airline — Samoa Airways and Talofa Airways — until Mar. 26th — which is when the current extended state of emergency declaration expires.

Last week, both Samoa Airways and Talofa Airways reduced daily flights to 4 each per airline, as the Samoa government moved to reduce weekly flights between Apia and New Zealand, with its first confirmed COVID-19 case. The reduction in flights was part of efforts to combat the spread of the virus to Samoa.

Motusa explained that reduction of flights on the inter Samoa route, also reduces the number of travelers and possible spread of the virus. He also noted New Zealand’s first virus case and points out that the measles outbreak in Samoa started with a New Zealander visiting the independent state.

Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele requested for ASG to talk with Samoa Airways so that the reduction of its flights does not impact the airline’s five weekly flights between Tutuila and Manu’a.

DoH also recommends the suspension of Talofa Airways flights between Pago Pago and Tonga, until Mar. 26th.

At press time yesterday, DoH has yet to issue a new travel advisory.

ASG TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

“As a result of the ongoing global outbreak” of the coronavirus, Lemanu issued a memo yesterday saying that all ASG travel to affected US states and foreign countries “is suspended effective immediately.”

“Only travel absolutely essential for the functioning of the government will be authorized,” he said, noting that travel already approved with Travel Authorization already processed “may still occur, however, ASG employees will be subject to all Travel Advisory processes and quarantine measures implemented” by DoH.

He advised each department that this measure “is being put in place for the health and safety of our employees and population.”

He concluded, “For that reason, only essential travel will be considered.”