Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Public Works is drawing up a blueprint for a new government quarantine facility as part of American Samoa’s response and preparedness for any viruses and other diseases that spread rapidly, such as measles and the new coronavirus.

Speaking at a cabinet briefing on measles and coronavirus updates late Sunday afternoon, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga said DPW is almost done with the blueprint of the facility, which will include 10 units located around the Tafuna Community Health Center area.

The proposed facility was discussed during a cabinet meeting last week and Lolo said he hopes construction will begin this week, adding that ASG is saving money from other areas to fund this important project.

Lolo said American Samoa must have sufficient resources, such as facilities, to respond to diseases and viruses — like measles and the deadly coronavirus.

ASG has designated the Leone Health Clinic as a quarantine facility — but it has limited space. As of Saturday, Feb. 9th, three individuals were quarantined there. The first two are local permanent residents who returned from China and Taiwan late last month and were put under quarantine for 14 days.

DoH’s presentation at Sunday’s briefing showed a possible release date of this week for both travelers following a final medical evaluation.

The third and new case is a US passport holder — also a local resident — returning from New Zealand via Samoa on Feb. 8th. DoH director Motusa Tuileama Nua said the person spent 7 days in Apia but failed to meet the current travel requirement of 14-days quarantine in Samoa before entering the territory.

Therefore, the person is being quarantined for 7 days at the Leone Clinic with a possible release date of Feb. 13th based on a final medical evaluation, said Motusa, who emphasized that all travelers must adhere to current travel requirements in place.

(See yesterday’s Samoa News for the latest DoH travel advisory update).

DoH epidemiologist Dr. Aifili John Tufa provided an update and briefing on the coronavirus, which as of yesterday morning had infected more than 40,000 people worldwide and killing over 900, with the vast majority of the cases in China.

Dr. Tufa said the biggest concern globally, including American Samoa, is that there is no vaccine for this virus. For American Samoa, which is “very isolated and our resources are limited — such as personnel and facilities — it’s important for us to be a little more stringent on these travel restrictions,” he said. “So if we see the slightest chance of the coronavirus that might come here, we need to put a lid on it. Because if it does come here, and spread in the territory... it might turn into a crisis,” he added.

A new travel restriction, added to the Feb. 7th travel advisory, requires all travelers from foreign countries — outside of the US — entering American Samoa via Hawaii to:
• provide proof of MMR vaccination administered 14 days before entry
• be subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine at the Leone clinic.

According to Motusa, the new current “coronavirus travel categories and quarantine classification” put in place for American Samoa is to further protect territorial borders from the coronavirus. He said the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines dictate that travelers going directly to the US from China are considered “high risk” while travelers from other foreign countries to the US fall under the “medium” and “low” risk classification.

For American Samoa, the interpretation of “high risk” travelers from all foreign countries — other than the US — transiting through Hawaii or even Samoa and Tonga — are in this classification and will be placed under 14-day quarantine at the Leone clinic.

The reason for this, he said, is that the US has sufficient resources, a lot of medical centers, and faster response to such medical crisis, while American Samoa only has one hospital, and insufficient resources including personnel.

Furthermore, if there is just one case on island, that is a serious health risk to the entire territory.

For travelers from the US — originating from states with confirmed coronavirus cases, such as Washington state, California, and Arizona — they are considered “medium risk” and these individuals will “self quarantine” at their homes and visited by a DoH medical team, he said.

He added that “low risk” are travelers from the US originating from unaffected states and therefore will not be required to undergo quarantine or any monitoring.

Motusa said if there is one confirmed coronavirus case in nearby countries, such as Samoa and Tonga, DoH will recommend closure of American Samoa’s borders.

Lolo told cabinet members that local ASG officials will be meeting this week with Hawaiian Airlines officials, with American Samoa’s recommendation for the airline to ensure that passengers are not allowed on their flights if they don’t meet the 14-day quarantine requirement for all foreign countries, except for the US.

AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE

DoH data shows that between Feb. 2-8, two travelers who arrived at Pago Pago International Airport on both Samoa Airways and Talofa Airways were home quarantined for measles because they didn’t meet local entry requirements, while 110 passengers — who originated from the US and arrived on Hawaiian Airlines — were home quarantined for the coronavirus.

DoH medical staff is conducting follow-ups and assessments of these individuals.

Motusa said 5 passengers who arrived on Talofa Airways and Samoa Airways during the same period — Feb. 2-8 — were denied entry for failure to meet all travel requirements and therefore were returned to their last port.

Motusa also mentioned that a traveler who transited through Samoa from New Zealand is undergoing 7-day quarantine at the Leone clinic.