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Governor’s latest emergency declaration defines essential business

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Mandates closure of all non-essential businesses during Code Red
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — “Only essential businesses will be allowed to operate” during the current “Code Red” threat level and operation hours are from 5a.m to 4p.m., according to Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga’s latest COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, dated yesterday and effective through Apr. 1.

It declares that American Samoa is under Code Red and outlined restrictions under this threat level, which has been effect since 12:01a.m. on Feb. 22. 

Under Code Red, all employers — public and private — will designate essential employees who directly perform or support essential services, such as those related to public safety; health; utilities; food production, distribution, and sales; sanitation and laundry; telecommunications; media; essential construction; essential retail, port operations; essential payroll and fiscal services; and similar essential services.

Additionally, only those employees whose presence on-site is absolutely essential should work at their places of employment. To the maximum extent possible, all employers should implement emergency operations procedures that include working remotely.

“Non-essential business shall close,” according to the declaration, and in a separate memorandum issued yesterday providing additional guidance for Code Red, the governor explained what a “non-essential business” is.

And that includes but is not limited to: outdoor and indoor organized sports; movie theaters; gyms and fitness centers; golf course; hair salons, barber shops, nail salons or services; commercial and personal recreational boating or charter fishing vessels; community swimming pool; commercial car or vehicle cleaning; bingo fundraising activities; roadside fundraising activities; car washes; and all public and private recreational facilities.

(Samoa News will report in tomorrow’s edition on the governor’s explanation on what is an essential business and other information from the memorandum.)

Other restrictions, as cited in the new emergency declaration for Code Red, includes that all air and sea travel is suspended, port of entry is closed except for military and approved air or sea cargo and all public gatherings are prohibited unless exempted.

The declaration also addresses the nightly curfew, which is from 9p.m each night until 4:30a.m. the next day. “While the curfew is in effect, no person shall leave their home unless they are engaged in or traveling to or from an essential business or activity or they are engaged in the enforcement of this curfew,” the declaration states.

Another provision states that all persons is public places shall observe social distance guidelines by maintaining six-feet of physical distance from others, and wearing a face mask or covering mask that covers their mouth and nose when interacting with anyone who does not live with them.

Additional requirements and restrictions will be issued as necessary for the protection of public health, according to the declaration, which kept in place all restrictions from previous declarations.

Click on attachment below to download a copy of the latest COVID-19 declaration.