The Health Department has updated its travel advisory and guidelines for American Samoa on travelers from Samoa, and the policy — which became effective June 28 and signed by Health director Motusa Tuileama Nua and DoH Clinical director Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao — is subject “to change based on emerging situations, the threat level of the COVID-19 and local COVID-19 situations.”
Samoa News reports the advisory, according to DoH, is to provide requirements for inbound and outbound travelers between the two-Samoas; provide procedures to safely process incoming travelers from Samoa; utilize the ASG’s TalofaPass websystem, which screens entry into the territory; and to guide airport operations to ensure safety of personnel and reduce risk of exposure to any potential threats from COVID-19.
Under current policy, based on the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, American Samoa limits the number of travelers to and from Samoa, up to 50 outbound and up to 50 inbound, per flight on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays including charter flights.
ASG officials told Samoa News that the latest DoH advisory and guidelines are important so that travelers to American Samoa are fully aware of current requirements, despite the easing of many local COVID restrictions. “It is a necessary advisory and updates previous important advisories, when American Samoa first issued COVID declarations in 2020,” said one official.
PRE-TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
The new travel advisory, updated three times since 2020, gave a long summary of pre travel requirements from Samoa, which all travelers must meet. For example, have a valid confirm ticket, register on TalofaPass and update copy of travelers COVID vaccination card and valid identification documents — such as a passport, Certificate of Identification, government issued form of ID – 5 days before departure.
The policy emphasized that official names and dates of birth on Vaccination cards must match official identification documents provided. (Samoa News understands that this requirement is important due to instances where the ID documents, have a different name than the one shown on the Vaccination card.)
All travelers 5 years years and older must be fully vaccinated and that “vaccine eligible travelers who have not been vaccinated due to medical conditions must provide a letter of exemption from a physician,” the advisory states.
While full vaccination is required for entry, DoH said COVID-19 booster shots are strongly encouraged for all eligible population ages 12 and above.
The advisory also states that passengers whose travel originates from the U.S and Samoa are no longer required to provided a negative PCR COVID-19 test result. However, passengers whose travel originates from outside of the U.S and Samoa “must” be in the U.S or Samoa 72 hours and complete a PCR COVID-19 test requirement to be submitted on TalofaPass prior to boarding for American Samoa.
