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Without fanfare or public notice — repatriation registration site is open

ASG online registry home page
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The ASG Health Department’s “Online for Repatriation to American Samoa” site has been quietly launched, without any fanfare or public notice that the online-portal for some estimated 600 local residents wanting to return home to register is open.

Samoa News only learned yesterday morning from a local individual, who has a friend working at DoH about the registration and it was around the same time that some members of the Tagata Tutu Fa’atasi Alliance of American Samoa — the group behind the push for a repatriation flight from the US for local residents stranded off island — learned as well and started posting it on the group’s Facebook page.

DoH had announced in past cabinet and COVID-19 task force meetings that they had set up an online site for local residents to register, but the website — www.americansamoapublichealth.com — was not live, with needed information to register for repatriation to American Samoa.

As of 11a.m yesterday, DoH didn’t even put a notice on its Facebook page, where it publicizes all of its COVID-19 related information.

It’s unclear at this point as to when the online registration went live or was launched but DoH says on the online portal that it is accepting applications from qualifying residents who wish to be repatriated.

“The American Samoa Government Repatriation Program is voluntary,” the notice online says, and explained that applicants — all of whom must be legal residents of American Samoa — have chosen to participate in this repatriation program, and must comply with all DoH repatriation policies and procedures. “Applicants who do not comply will be disqualified.”

The registration portal provides a form to fill out online if you are a resident of American Samoa who would like to return to American Samoa, but has not been able to due to COVID-19.

In order to be eligible for repatriation, the traveler must be able to present: Proof of identity, proof of current residency in American Samoa, and a health declaration and clearance. The portal outlines acceptable proof of identify and proof of residency documents and this includes for foreign nationals who are residents of American Samoa.

For a Health Declaration and Clearance, the traveler must submit the travel health declaration form; a health clearance by licensed physician form, and a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of travel, which will be performed at the site of your pre-boarding quarantine. (The forms are also available online)

Travelers will be notified and if successful, the traveler will be scheduled for a 10-day pre-boarding quarantine in Honolulu. “You will be notified of the location of your quarantine site at this time. Report for your quarantine and your flight. All American Samoa Government repatriation flights will be departing” from Honolulu airport, it says.

According to the registration portal, if the person’s application for repatriation is denied, “you will be able to re-apply in the future. You'll be notified once you're able to resubmit your application.”

Under the governor’s current COVID-19 emergency declaration, the Attorney General provides the OK board for travelers entering American Samoa. In other words, it’s the AG who handles the vetting process.

The DoH registration portal does not provide any time as to when repatriation flights will begin. But COVID-19 task force chairman Iulogologo Joseph Pereira told Samoa News two weeks ago that with the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, the start of repatriation flights is being pushed back to February next year. (See Samoa News edition Dec. 17th for details.)