The container vessel Fesco Asgold left port around 9 am and is now waiting about five miles out of the Harbor for further instructions from health officials concerning off loading operations.
The port was closed around the same time.
A notice issued by Port Administration Director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele said that the port will be closed until 7:30 am November 10, effective immediately.
A senior port official said that all but essential stevedore workers have been cleared off the dock. Port Administration also has only skeletal staff working.
Sections of the dock area are being disinfected.
The three crew members of the container vessel who tested positive yesterday for the Coronavirus remain on the vessel.
As we reported this morning none had shown symptoms of COVID 19 and according to DOH Epidemiologist Dr. Aifili John Tufa all 17 crew members of the container ship are asymptomatic.
None of the crew members left the vessel while it was in port from noon yesterday to 9 this morning when it pulled out to wait outside the harbor.
A meeting this afternoon will decide on off loading operations.
The cargo includes supplies for StarKist Samoa and the outbound voyage includes containers of tuna products for the US market. 
11 people were taken into quarantine last night at the Tafuna Quarantine Center, because they went on board the vessel or were exposed at some point to the three crew members who tested positive or those who went on board to do the tests.
They include seven DOH personnel who went on board, two lab workers and two Port Administration ship pilots.
American Samoa’s threat level remains at CODE Blue. The cases on the Fesco Askold are not considered local cases because the three individuals who tested positive did not come ashore and are in transit.
Therefore there’s no change in the threat level.
Dr Tufa urges the public to follow health instructions in the COVID-19 emergency declaration under CODE Blue: practice social distancing, cover mouth when coughing, practice good hygiene and wear masks.
