Samoa has once again opened its borders to travellers both to and from American Samoa, the Prime Minister has confirmed. 

The change in border arrangements was confirmed by the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, last week. 

This was confirmed by the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa in her weekly press conference last Friday.  

She said that travel to and from American Samoa had been shut down due to the case of an incoming positive COVID-19 case into the American territory from a passenger who had been travelling from Hawaii. 

Last month, three people were diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus in American Samoa, which was confirmed by health authorities in the territory.

The Government of the U.S. territory said that two additional COVID-19 cases had since been identified following an inbound flight, also from Hawaii. 

The first confirmed case for the American territory arrived on a 13 September flight from Honolulu. Two more – both fully vaccinated local residents – arrived on a 27 September flight from the same state, officials confirmed.

Prime Minister Fiame said that a report was received and that issue has passed, “there was no indication of the virus spreading [community transmission], and I guess the methods used to contain the virus were effective.”

“Therefore, American Samoa is safe and we will continue travels for those that will come here and also for us [locals] to go there,” she said. 

“There were some of our local people that traveled to do medical screening, especially the X-ray scans because ours is not operational...there was an agreement between the two Governments to allow our sick people to go there to use their scans.

“Some of our people that are in need of traveling there are those who will be employed in American Samoa just like how our seasonal workers have traveled to New Zealand and Australia; they will be travelling there for jobs and this will also continue.”

Fiame confirmed that the new arrangements had taken effect last Saturday and border crossings would be held twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays. 

She said the belief is that this is a good thing especially with American Samoa as one of our partners, it is important to communicate and work together for ways we can increase economic activities and, “also one of the main reasons why we travel is to attend family funerals.”