All incoming travelers must produce negative rapid test results

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Effective immediately, all incoming travelers must produce negative rapid test results before they are allowed to board a flight to Samoa.

The test must be conducted 24 hours before arrival.

The new requirement was announced by Deputy Director-General of Health Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thompson, according to the Government.

It is among the new mandates put in place to protect Samoa from the possible entry of the new Omicron BA.2. BA.4 and BA.5 variants reportedly have surfaced in neighboring American Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia.

Savali reported the Government is well aware of the presence of these new Omicron variants in American Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia.

For Samoa, the samples sent to Wellington for testing and sequencing have verified that Omicron BA.1 remains the sole variant in the country.

Chairman of the Disaster Advisory Committee, Agafili Shem Leo said they are presently looking at protocols to strengthen our border protection from these new variants and Cabinet will be advised.

Keeping the new threats from further endangering the lives of residents is a universal responsibility for all residents  “our best defense is our vaccination.”