The Samoa Government has halted all incoming and outgoing flights to American Samoa as the U.S. territory reported community transmission of COVID-19 with the cases now standing at 63.

Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa told the media recently that the situation in the territory is being closely monitored and as a precautionary measure all flights to American Samoa are suspended indefinitely. 

Fiame noted that the border with the territory is closed while incoming flights from New Zealand remain open, though subject to the Cabinet’s approval. 

Pago Pago-based Samoa News has reported the extension of Code Red for the territory for another week to protect and prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the community. 

The territory's Department of Health reported that the majority of the positive COVID-19 cases were fully vaccinated while some were not.

Local authorities in the U.S. territory believe a Department of Health worker, who was at a quarantine site monitoring passengers from the 27 January 2022 Honolulu flight, got infected and upon return home passed the virus to seven family members to begin the community transmission. 

Meanwhile, the Samoa Government has advised that all passengers who flew into Samoa on the 12 February flight from New Zealand continue to return negative tests for COVID-19. 

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said the 272 passengers will remain in quarantine under the 21 days mandatory quarantine policy.

For the 73 passengers who flew into Samoa on the 19 January 2022 charter flight from Brisbane, Australia – when multiple positive COVID-19 cases were detected – have all been released from quarantine. 

Fiame said the five nurses who tested positive for coronavirus while monitoring the passengers are still under observation. 

In terms of charter flights for this month, Cabinet has approved several charter flights to transport seasonal workers to New Zealand and Australia.

The first flight to Australia on 1 March transported seasonal workers contracted to work for seven to nine months in Victoria. The second flight on 7 March is for seasonal workers contracted to work for three years in Queensland, Australia. 

Another flight to Victoria, Australia is scheduled for 23 March for seasonal workers contracted to work for three years, while the flight on 25 March will take seasonal workers to Australia who are contracted to work for 7-9 months in Queensland.

The first flight to New Zealand is scheduled for 8 March and will transport R.S.E. workers to work in New Zealand for 7-9 months. Another flight is scheduled for the 15 March, also for R.S.E. workers to work in New Zealand for 7-9 months.

A flight is also scheduled for 27 March to transport R.S.E. workers to work in New Zealand for 7-9 months with the last flight for the month on 29 March which will transport R.S.E. workers to work for 7-9 months in New Zealand.