Changes are underway regarding entry requirements for travelers arriving into American Samoa, whose trips originate from outside Hawaii and Samoa.
The Chairman of the COVID-19 Task Force, Lt. Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale, has confirmed that travelers from outside of Samoa and the United States will only need to produce a negative test 72-hours before their flight.
In recent months, those travelers were required to remain in Samoa and Hawaii for 72-hours prior to departure to American Samoa.
With the new change, travelers are allowed to fly straight through without stopping as long as they can produce a negative PCR test prior to departing for American Samoa. Travelers are now allowed to test in the country of origin instead of Samoa or Hawai’i.
There other changes in travel restrictions in effect, as well. The pre-registration period for TalofaPass is being shortened from 14 days to 10 days for travelers arriving via Hawaii. The pre-registration period for Samoa is now 5 days before travel.
The Lt. Governor said, “We will continue to assist and accommodate all travelers with TalofaPass issues up to their flight or sail time.”
KHJ News has observed that the final questionnaire on the TalofaPass registration, which travelers are required to complete before travel, has now been removed. Previously, the questionnaire process was required before travelers were issued their TalofaPass QR code, allowing them to fly. This had reportedly been a snag for many travelers in the past.
Also from the Task Force, the number of passengers allowed on the Lady Naomi sailings from Apia is now doubled to 80.
