Quarantine costs

The Chairman of NEOC Agafili Shem Leo said they proposed that returning Samoan citizens pay for their own quarantine costs from this year.

The costs vary between WST$3000 and WST$5000 according to Agafili.

The proposal excludes patients who travelled overseas for treatments and scholarship students who will return to Samoa.

According to Agafili, this new procedure was initiated due to people who have been travelling in and out of the country normally and made up necessary excuses to travel.

The Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Committee, Agafili Shem Leo said Cabinet has approved the new plans.

Currently government has been paying for the cost of accommodation, breakfast and lunch in MIQ for passengers.

This has so far cost almost $19 million ($18.74million) tālā since the start of repatriation flights, a cost that also includes cost of security services, transportation and associated costs.

Agafili said the average cost to repatriate and quarantine one person for 21 days is between $3,000 and $5,000 tālā.