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Operating hours for essential businesses extended — now open to 6p.m.

Code Red logo
Gas stations, buses and taxis may return to normal operation hours
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Operating hours for essential businesses have been extended to 6p.m. while gas stations and public transportation — buses and taxis — return to normal operating hours, under changes outlined in Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga’s First Amendment to his Mar. 2 COVID-19 Emergency Declaration.

The amendment was released late Monday afternoon, after proposed plans to ease some restrictions under the current Code Red threat level — especially for businesses — was announced earlier in the day, during a news conference.

BUSINESSES

In the First Amendment to the declaration, dated Mar. 7, the governor declared Code Red is in effect, but now with specific restrictions.

For example, only essential businesses are allowed to operate under the new extended hours of operation from 5a.m. to 6p.m.; buses and taxis may operate 24-hours a day but face masks are required to be worn by passengers [including drivers]; and gas stations may resume their normal business hours.

The amendment keeps in place current restriction that 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.

All ASG offices remain closed except for first responders and essential employees. And directors should implement emergency operations procedures that include working remotely.

While non-essential businesses are closed, the new amendment provides these exemptions:

•           a single worker may be present at a business location. Customers are not permitted to enter non-essential business locations;

•           all remote work that does not involve the presence of more than one employee is permitted;

•           outdoor work is permitted so long as workers can stay six-feet away from other people and masks are required to be worn. Outdoor work that involves people working alone does not require masking.

•           requests for exceptions should be made by submitting a site safety plan to the Emergency Operations Center email - eoc.opschief@asdhs.as.gov - or call 699-3800 extension 116.

PUBLIC GATHERINGS

Furthermore, all public gatherings are prohibited except:

•           individual exercise or workouts are permitted, but group workouts, organized sports, and organized practice are prohibited.

•           any training or supporting services for essential government functions provided that masks are used and social distancing is observed.

(Samoa News notes that many residents are out early in the morning — since the start of Code Red late last month — with  daily walking along the main road.)

The amended declaration, maintains previous public restrictions, including the curfew from 9p.m. each night to 4:30a.m the following day. During curfew time, 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.

During Monday’s news conference, Attorney General Fainu’ulelei Falefatu Alailima-Utu emphasized provisions of the curfew and for the community to remain at home and only venture out when needed — such as going to the store, getting vaccinated or tested.

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

The amended declaration points to a provision of a local statute, relating to licensing of medical professionals, saying the provision is “suspended”, to the extent that any person who is licensed to provide medical services by a U.S state, territory or the District of Columbia shall be deemed as licensed in American Samoa provided that:

•           the person is licensed as a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, pharmacist, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or other medical provider in a U.S. state, U.S territory or the District of Columbia;

•           the person’s license to provide medical services has not been suspended in any state, territory or the District of Columbia; and

•           the person is a federal medical responder — uniformed service, federal employee or federal contractor — or is under contract with the LBJ Medical Center and the Health Department.

OTHER ISSUES

The first amended declaration, keeps in place all other restrictions under Code Blue — for example, all air and sea travel is suspended unless approved by the governor and lieutenant governor upon assurance that the health and safety of American Samoa residents will be protected.

Furthermore, ports of entry are closed except for military and approved air or sea passenger cargo vessels.