The American Samoa Health Department has recommended suspending the use of ASG’s online safe travel portal, TALOFAPass — which screens entry into American Samoa.
If approved it will be in effect on 1 November 2022.
Samoa News reports that during its presentation at the task force meeting, DoH presented five recommendations, including that the department’s medical team recommends suspending TALOFAPass by Nov. 01 this year.
There were also plans to monitor travellers’ vaccination status which will present at the next task force briefing.
Under current restrictions, mask-wearing is required for all incoming travellers as well as Pago Pago International Airport operations personnel, and the inside vicinity of the airport is limited to only arrival and departing passengers — not the public.
However, DoH recommends to the task force that masks no longer be required for airport operations and this includes returning travellers.
Additionally, it recommends allowing the community to have access to the airport with normal operations resuming.
Another recommendation is for DoH and the local Homeland Security Department to find a way to mitigate 3 hours at the luggage and inspection areas at the airport for arriving passengers.
DoH also recommends that the Airport Hangar facility used for isolation of incoming passengers testing positive upon arrival can be used to support family services for returned human remains.
Under current COVID-19 restrictions, arriving travellers are no longer required to be tested upon arrival in American Samoa.
