A new emergency declaration for Covid-19 issued yesterday by Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga requires ASG employees to provide proof of full vaccination for Covid to the Director of Human Resources by January 14.
Failure to comply means the employee will not be allowed to work in any position inside a government owned or leased building or in a government owned or leased vehicle or any worksite or other location where they will be in the presence of other ASG employees or members of the public, in the course of their employment.
Any employee who does not comply shall be placed on leave by their department or agency and the Director of Human Resources until the employee provides proof of vaccination or until the emergency is over.
Employees may use their accumulated annual or sick leave while they are on leave. Otherwise, the leave shall be without pay.
The new order also states that nothing in the declaration can stop termination of an employee for violation of standards of employment and deportment. Employees may apply for exemptions to the vaccination mandate based on a disability, or on religious or health grounds.
The declaration prohibits the hiring of anyone who is not fully vaccinated or granted an exemption as of Nov 1 last year.
All travelers to the territory 16 years and older must provide proof of vaccination. And they must register on the Talofa Pass system. If they are from a country where there’s community spread of Covid they must register 21 days before departure.
All entry permits are suspended except for guest workers for a cannery or call center,
The new declaration maintains the closing date for registration for the immigration amnesty program which is January 13. All other provisions are essentially the same as in the last declaration with the territory continuing under the least threat level…Code Blue.
This declaration goes into effect January 8 and will last until February 6.
Click here for full text of Declaration2022-01-13-Emergency-Declaration
