N.Z. and U.S. added to COVID monitor list

By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 13 January 2021, 4:00AM

New Zealand and the United States have been added to the list of countries that will be assessed on a case by case basis by Samoa Government authorities before any decision is made to deny entry. 

The latest change was released in a Special Travel Advice for travelers entering Samoa issued by the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) Director General, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri on 11 January. 

Meanwhile, all travelers originating from or transiting through the United Kingdom and South Africa from 1 October 2020 onwards are denied entry to Samoa until further review. 

This is due to the emergence and rapid transmission of a COVID-19 variant which was detected and identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa. 

The previous travel advisory dated 30 December 2020 had listed 13 other countries being on the monitored list where travelers and transiting passengers are being assessed on a case by case basis. 

New Zealand and the United States were the latest countries to be added to the list with the M.O.H. saying that all countries that are not on the list are also being monitored. 

The New Zealand Herald  reported that as of Tuesday there are four new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation. 

Three of the new cases of the new COVID-19 variant are part of a group of international mariners who traveled from Singapore or the U.A.E. and are in quarantined, the newspaper reported. 

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that there are a total of 72 COVID-19 variant cases.

By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 13 January 2021, 4:00AM

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