All incoming passengers arriving on international flights starting 14 May onwards are required to self or home isolate, the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) has advised. 

This change in COVID-19 protocols for travellers was announced in a public notice issued on Saturday by the Acting Director General of Health, Dr Glenn Atoa Fatupaito.

The M.O.H. public notice also encourages that only one person is to uplift arriving passenger(s) at the Faleolo International Airport. This is to avoid overcrowding and to reduce the risk of further COVID-19 exposure.

All incoming passengers are also strongly advised to remain quarantined at home for seven consecutive days upon arrival in Samoa.

They must also have regular medical checks including COVID-19 tests at a nearby hospital or clinic on day-three and day-seven of their arrival and to report to the M.O.H.

“Failure to comply with these conditions and requirements will result in a fine of $2,000 or more,” reads the Ministry's public notice.

In addition, all other travel requirements upon arrival at the airport are listed in the Travel Advice for travellers in Samoa.

“The Ministry of Health appreciates your support and we urge you to continue to practice preventative measures of COVID-19 such as hand-washing, wearing a properly fitted face mask, maintaining 2 meters distancing to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

The M.O.H. also released its newly revised travel advice for travelers entering Samoa from Saturday 14 May onwards and warned them to expect changes at short notice.

The new changes in the travel advice include all passengers being responsible for their own transport and self or home isolation arrangements. All passengers upon arrival into Samoa are also required to wear face masks at all times.

“Any passenger with a positive test must self/home isolate for 10 days from the date tested positive with a repeat test done on day 10,” reads the new travel advice.

Also, all close contacts of a positive case must also self/home isolate for seven-days with RATs [rapid antigen tests] done on day-seven.

“All passengers on arrival must submit to a Nasal pharyngeal swab for PCR testing. All passengers or guardians must sign consent for self/home isolation.”

All incoming passengers are required to have a negative Nucleic Acid Amplification test (NAAT) – by nasal pharyngeal swab or saliva test to be taken within 48 hours of departure from originating airport. Or a supervised negative RATs test to be done within 24 hours before departure from originating airport.

All incoming passengers must self-isolate for seven-days except those who have tested positive. The M.O.H. also stated that all passengers must provide a valid local phone number and email or Facebook address.

“All passengers are required to arrange and have a medical supervised RATs done at any health facility or private clinic on day-three and day-seven of self-home isolation and report results to the Ministry of Health. 

“Self-testing at home is not acceptable.” 

The M.O.H. also warns that failure to provide required information and adherence to home isolation requirement will result in a $2,000 fine or higher or to the extent of your name being publicised.

The travel advice also disclosed that all travelers are encouraged to have their booster shots done before travel to Samoa.