American Samoa border remains closed

By Joyetter Feagaimaali'i 07 May 2020, 5:00AM

American Samoa will continue to close its borders, even to Samoa, as the territory moves to protect their people from the coronavirus pandemic. 

So said Governor, Lolo Matalasi Moliga, during a brief interview with the Samoa Observer. 

“Our borders will remain closed and that will not change,” he said.

Last week, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said Samoa's border restrictions have been slightly eased for flights to American Samoa and New Zealand, subject to medical clearance.

For travellers to and from American Samoa, Tuilaepa said flights will be restricted to Fridays and subject to negotiations with the territory. 

Talanei news says Governor Lolo approved a flight last week to Samoa to take an engineer from the LBJ Hospital to fix Samoa’s CAT scan. 

During the Coronavirus Task Force meeting, Lolo said that there are certain things which he is allowing for the health and wellbeing of the people of Samoa. 

He referred to the oxygen supplies from the territory during the measles outbreak and added last week he received a request from Samoa for an engineer to fix their cat scan which has been down for four months. 

The Governor pointed out that there are some things that Samoa helps with, for example the airplane, a reference to the Samoa Airways aircraft that’s being based here to provide service to Manu’a.

But the Governor made it clear that the border with Samoa is still closed. He told the meeting that “we will stick to our policy, and not go by what Samoa is doing.”


By Joyetter Feagaimaali'i 07 May 2020, 5:00AM

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