According to Acting Attorney General Mitzie Jessop-Taase, 150 residents of American Samoa traveled to Samoa starting January 1, 2020 who have not returned.
Out of that number 26 applications for okay boards to return from Samoa have been processed by her office for the repatriation flights between the two Samoa which begin today.
Jessop-Taase says all local residents intending to come on the repatriation flights from Samoa need to apply for an Okay Board from the American Samoa AG’s Office.
She said these flights are open only to returning residents.
To apply for an OK Board they must send in copies of their passports, the stamped pages on the passport or a Certificate of Identity and a local ID Card plus their itinerary.
They can email their documents to OkayBoard@la.as.gov
For travelers returning from American Samoa to Apia, Samoa’s Ministry of Health today issued an advisory of the requirements they must meet.
All Travellers must have been residing in American Samoa for 14 consecutive days or more without history of travel outside of Am. Samoa.
All are required to complete the Health Declaration Card in flight or on arrival.
They must undergo medical examination by a Registered Medical Practitioner within (3) days before ARRIVAL.
A COVID-19 test is essential but NOT required for boarding.
All are required to present medical report for check-in and on arrival to health officers at airport.
Any passengers with Flu Like Illness or Fever of 38 deg. Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) will be denied boarding.
Failure to provide a valid medical report will be denied boarding or entry denied and returned to last port where you boarded the flight.
Returning passengers from American Samoa that meet ALL conditions are NOT required to undergo the 14 day mandatory quarantine.
The Health Ministry stressed that all travelers outside of American Samoa (e.g. Hawaii, USA mainland, Asia, etc.etc) must reside in American Samoa for 28 days or more before onward travel to Samoa.
The Samoa advisory concludes, “These requirements can change without notice. We endeavor to keep Samoa COVID-19-Free.
“Your compliance with the conditions listed herein are imperative to ensuring the safety of all who are travelling and our people in Samoa.
“We pray for your safe repatriation to Samoa.”
