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Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa’s Dept. of Health (DoH) is imposing new travel restrictions — effective Monday, Mar. 9th — on all passengers, including local residents — traveling from and transiting through more than a dozen US states affected by the coronavirus as well as reducing daily flights on the inter Samoa route and barring entry of cruise ship.

The new restrictions are detailed in the Mar. 4th DoH travel advisory, signed by Health director Motusa Tuialeama Nua, and released late Wednesday afternoon. It explained that the new advisory is “due to the rapid spread of coronavirus — COVID-19 — and ongoing measles surveillance.”

“This travel advisory is subject to change due to the daily COVID-19 updates,” it says, adding that DoH “strongly recommends that all persons intending to travel to any US state and foreign country affected by the COVID-19 to postpone travel... unless necessary.”

Regarding “entry permits” into the territory, the new DoH advisory states that, “All travel permits are suspended until further notice except for returning residents with valid immigration IDs or Immigration Board approval.”

With the new travel advisory, Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga, who is the current acting governor, issued yesterday a new directive to cabinet members, saying that all ASG travel is suspended “effective immediately”.

“Only travelers with per diem checks issued will be permitted to travel subject to the Travel Advisory issued by DoH,” he said. “There will be no new travel authorizations issued until further notice.”

As of yesterday morning, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the US has a total of 99 coronavirus cases reported from 13 states with a total of 10 deaths. (See www.cdc.gov for the updates which includes foreign countries.)

A majority of the US deaths are in the Seattle area of Washington state, prompting serious concerns from Motusa and other local officials due to the large Samoa community in that area. Another concern is reported cases in California, which has a large Samoan community.

Globally, the virus had infected nearly 97,000 people and killed over 3,300, according to the data reported yesterday morning (local time) by The Associated Press, based on information from US and foreign governments.

Yesterday, the World Heath Organization (www.who.int for updates) urged governments across the globe to pull out “all stops” to slow the spread of the virus, while the United Nation health agency urged countries to “push this virus back.”

INTER SAMOA FLIGHTS

According to the DoH advisory, inter Samoa flights are reduced to two daily flights per airline — which are Samoa Airways and Talofa Airways. Furthermore, all charter flights will be denied entry into American Samoa until further notice.

For travelers from American Samoa to Samoa, these are the following requirements:
• proof of MMR vaccination 14 days before travel
• health clearance from the Tafuna Community Health Center 3-days before travel.

Local residents staying more than 3-days in Samoa must acquire a health clearance from the Samoa Ministry of Health (phone contact in Apia: 685-68100) before returning to the territory.

For travelers from American Samoa traveling beyond Samoa - e.g. Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Tonga, etc - and returning to the territory:
• spend 14 days in Samoa
• acquire a health clearance ONLY from the Samoa Ministry of Health 3-days before entry
• provide proof of MMR vaccination 14-days before entry.

For travelers from Samoa to Pago Pago, they are required to obtain a health clearance from the Ministry of Health 3-days before entry; and proof of MMR vaccination 14-days before entry.

TONGA FLIGHTS

DoH said that Talofa Airways flights between American Samoa and Tonga are suspended until further notice.
Nukualofa-based Matangi Tonga news agency reports early this week the first suspected coronavirus case in the island kingdom, and that samples from the person, have been send to New Zealand for testing.

FLIGHTS FROM HAWAII

The DoH advisory also places new restrictions on all travelers including American Samoa residents entering the territory on flights from Hawai’i. Affected travelers are those traveling from and transiting through “affected US states” — with confirmed COVID-19 cases — Washington state, Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, North Carolina, George, Florida and Rhode Island.

(Samoa News notes that as of yesterday morning the state of Tennessee reported its first COVID-19 case.)

These travelers, according to the advisory, will be subject to: spend 14-days in Hawai’i, acquire a health clearance 3-days before entry into American Samoa; and provide itinerary at check-in counter in Hawai’i and upon arrival in American Samoa.

The same travel requirements for entry into the territory are placed on all travelers — including American Samoa residents — traveling from and transiting through foreign countries affected by the virus.

DoH listed foreign countries affected with the latest advisory and says that it will update the list as needed via radio and on the DoH Facebook page. DOH will also update its lists of affected states as needed via radio and DOH Facebook page.

DoH officials say that it was an oversight that the new advisory didn’t include New Zealand and Australia — which both have reported confirmed cases.

With the latest advisory posted on the DoH Facebook page as well as the page for Samoa News, some have raised questions on where travelers are to obtain the health clearance in Honolulu and who will pay for it.

Samoa News understands that the traveler is responsible to paying for any health clearance costs, as well as seeking a medical center in Honolulu to get the clearance. The traveler is also responsible for paying expanses while waiting in Honolulu for 14-days.

“Might as well delay or cancel trips to American Samoa,” said a traveler from California in an email message to Samoa News. “That 14-days in Hawaii will be costly when it comes to accommodations, unless you have family in Honolulu and the family wants you to stay with them.”

Two other Samoans, who claim to be living in the Seattle area told Samoa News — via email — of postponing plans to visit next month. “Who wants to wait in Honolulu and pay extra expenses,” said one of the travelers.

SEAPORT TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

According to DoH, cruise ships will not be granted entry into American Samoa until further notice, while all incoming vessels screening requirements at the Port of Pago Pago remain the same.

VIRUS SYMPTOMS

DoH reminds the public of the symptoms of the virus: fever, cough and shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.  DoH also urged the public to practice personal hygiene — especially washing hands.

Call the measles/COVID-19 hotline 633-5871/5872 for any questions and updates.

PPE GLOBAL SHORTAGE

DoH officials said during the Sunday briefing with Lemanu that one of the challenges the agency faces is personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, which it has only enough to cover two months.

The national media reports that there is a global shortage of PPE supplies and WHO in an international statement issued Tuesday warned that severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of PPE caused by rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse — “is putting lives at risk from the new coronavirus and other infectious diseases.”

It says that the shortages are leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients, due to limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom urged industry and governments to “act quickly to boost supply, ease export restrictions and put measures in place to stop speculation and hoarding. We can’t stop COVID-19 without protecting health workers first.”