10 Mar 2020

American Samoa revises Covid-19 advisory

8:29 am on 10 March 2020
Person in protective clothing and with a breathing mask in an airlock.

Photo: Marcel Kusch / dpa / AFP

American Samoa has revised its advisory so US passport holders and the residents travelling from US states with Covid-19 cases will not have to spend 14 days in Hawai'i and obtain a health clearance three days before arrival.

This was to be one of the requirements in an advisory issued last week and effective today but it has been changed.

The Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua told KHJ News that the government cost to enforce the rule would run into the millions.

Instead the screening of passengers at Pago Pago's Airport will be beefed up.

Those traveling from other foreign countries with Covid-19 will still be required to spend 14 days in Hawaii and obtain medical clearance before arrival.

Another change from last week's advisory sees the reduction of flights to two per day, for Samoa Airways and Talofa Airways, removed.

However, Talofa Airways' weekly flight to and from Tonga is suspended as are all charter flights.

Cruise ships are also banned.

Meanwhile, all residents who are travelling abroad are advised to return to American Samoa.

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