US travel ban

In a note to the media about its updated travel guidance, it said the pandemic continued to "pose unprecedented risks to travellers".

The current US "Do Not Travel" advisory covers 34 out of 200 countries.

Covid-19 has now claimed more than three million lives worldwide - more than half a million of them in the US.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned the world was "approaching the highest rate of infection" so far, despite the global rollout of vaccination programmes.

This follows reports of an Executive Order issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security about seasonal workers visas for Samoan citizens to enter the U.S.

US Embassy Charge’ d’Affaires, Antone Greubel told the Samoa Observer that the decision does not affect any other visa classes and Samoans may still travel freely to the US with valid travel documents.

The Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Chief Executive Officer, Agafili Tomaimano Shem Leo says the government is being kept abreast from the start by Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic officials in the New York.

 US District Judge Derrick Watson cited "questionable evidence" in the government's argument that the ban was a matter of national security.

President Trump described the ruling as "unprecedented judicial overreach".

The order would have placed a 90-day ban on people from six mainly Muslim nations and a 120-day ban on refugees.

Mr Trump insists the move is to stop terrorists from entering the US but critics say it is discriminatory.

An earlier version of the order, issued in late January, sparked confusion and protests, and was blocked by a judge in Seattle.

The policy has caused uproar internationally and was challenged by the acting US attorney general, whom Mr Trump then fired.

Top Republican Paul Ryan said he regretted that some people with valid documents had been affected.

But he also defended the ban, saying it aimed to prevent terror attacks.

In international reaction: