Effective immediately, all passengers entering Samoa from American Samoa will go into quarantine for up to 21 days.
Due to limited quarantine sites and rooms available Samoa can only accept and accommodate a maximum of 40 passengers per week.
This is outlined in the latest health advisory issued by the Ministry of Health.
All passages travelling from outside of American Samoa must complete 10 days from the date of arrival in American Samoa and any passengers arriving within the ten days will be denied entry and returned to American Samoa.
The MOH says that all travellers will be assessed on a case by case basis before being granted permission to travel to Samoa.
Also, the Samoa Government stressed that only Samoan residents citizens and essential workers and those approved for medical and visa clearance are allowed to enter Samoa.
Reports by 93HJ a media outlet in the US territory indicated American Samoa’s Department of Health was trying to get Samoa’s Ministry of Health to apply the same entry requirements they have in place. To test passengers upon arrival and if they’re negative quarantine is required.
Travellers also need to be fully vaccinated.
However, Samoa was firm on quarantine requirements for all arrivals from countries with community cases of Covid. Before February 21st, travellers from American Samoa were the only ones allowed to enter Samoa without being quarantined.
A senior airline official in Apia told KHJ news yesterday they had planned four flights to American Samoa Wednesday and Thursday, but said the flights were cancelled because the two Governments couldn’t agree on entry requirements.
The airline has informed passengers including construction workers that the flights will be next week possibly Wednesday and Thursday Samoa time.
Director of health Motusa Tuileama Nua confirmed Samoa is insisting on Quarantine for travellers from Samoa and at this stage no they have not set a firm date for the flights next week, he said no flights this week.
