American Samoa

Families of men killed in American Samoa still waiting on release of bodies

The four were killed in front of the StarKist Samoa plant.

The Department of Public Safety has requested the Attorney General's office for autopsies of the four men.

Attorney General Fainuulelei Ala'ilima Utu told KHJ News that based on the request from police, his office has asked LBJ Hospital for autopsies of Faasaulala Ahoni, Taumaoe Filipo, Ierome Vili and Alatina Faleasi.

Traveller tests positive in Pago Pago

American Samoa's Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua says the traveller was asymptomatic.

Motusa told KHJ News the all other travellers have yielded negative results.

This is the 11th positive covid test result detected in quarantine since American Samoa resumed commercial flights from Honolulu three months ago.

All of the confirmed cases have been asymptomatic.

The December 6 flight was Hawaiian Airlines' last commercial flight for the year.

 

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American Samoa records 5th Covid-19 case at border

KHJ News received confirmation from Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua that a traveller yielded a positive result for coronavirus from the tests conducted on the 3rd day after arrival.

The individual was the only person who tested positive among the 262 travellers who were in quarantine.

The individual has been moved to isolation.

The Department of Health has ruled out that the person is a historical case.

As with the first four imported positive coronavirus cases, the person was fully vaccinated and is asymptomatic.

Samoa lifts ban on travellers from American Samoa

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa told local media that according to a report the territory's confirmed cases no longer pose a threat.

Flights to American Samoa were not interrupted but Samoa banned travellers from the territory until the strain of their positive cases was determined.

Fiame said flights to and from the territory will operate on a Thursday and Saturday.

She noted that Samoa had been sending patients to American Samoa who needed CT scans, the cat scan at Samoa's main hospital has been down for some months.

Explanation for inter-Samoan flight ban

Director General of Health, Leausa Take Naseri, said it's because four cases in the territory there have still not been tested so it is not known if the cases are of the Delta strain.

He says there have been no positive cases of coronavirus from arrivals for Australia and New Zealand.

 

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Samoa approves flights to American Samoa

However, the flights will only bring travellers from Samoa to the territory, and return to Samoa empty.

This is until the Covid- 19 strain for the three confirmed coronavirus cases in the territory are known.

Samoa's Director General of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, said it is still not clear what the Covid variant is.

Flights from Samoa were suspended last week, affecting travellers for both Samoa Airway and Talofa Airways.

Photo: Supplied Caption: Faleolo airport, Immigration 

     

Covid-19 case in American Samoa is discussed in Samoa's Parliament

Ale Vena Ale of Faleata 3 electoral constituency said he was worried about reports of the positive case in American Samoa, saying it was very close and he didn't want the coronavirus in his constituency with its high numbers of registered residents.

First time MP Fuaava Amataga Penaia of Aleipata Itupa i Luga electorate also urged the government to look more closely at the effects of the pandemic on the country before opening up borders.

     

Flights between American Samoa and Samoa suspended

The positive case is a local resident who arrived back in American Samoa last week on a flight from Honolulu.

American Samoa's quarantine facility for incoming travellers from Samoa and Tonga has been closed so that the positive COVID-19 case can be isolated.

Lieutenant Governor, Talauega Eleasalo Ale said the flight suspension is temporary while the government works on a facility to quarantine travellers from Samoa and Tonga.

American Samoa records its first COVID-19 case

The positive case was a passenger who arrived on the September 13 flight from Hawaii according to Department of health officials.

The passenger is now in isolation for 14-days for observation and additional tests.

This was confirmed by the territory's acting governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale, during a press conference, where he was surrounded by health officials.

American Samoa seeking workers from Samoa

The shortage of workers at the cannery since the start of the year, prompted StarKist Samoa to seek government permission to hire from Samoa, under the Guest Workers Permit law.

StarKist Samoa officials were in Apia more than a week ago to conduct recruitment and reports from Samoa indicates that were some 600 applicants.

 

 

Photo: Fili Sagapolutele  Caption: American Samoa's Lieutenant Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale