Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga has extended to next month the deadlines for Executive Branch employees to comply with being fully COVID-19 vaccinated and for “overstayers” in American Samoa to apply for the 2021 Amnesty Program.

The deadline extensions are among a few new provisions in the governor’s latest COVID-19 Emergency Health Declaration, which became effective Dec. 10 for 30-days. And the declaration keeps American Samoa under “Code Blue” with no community spread of the deadly pandemic — although America Samoa has recorded 10-positive COVID cases in infected passengers who arrive on various Hawaiian Airlines flights from Honolulu since commercial flights resumed on a limited basis in September.

In the previous declaration, all Executive Branch employees were given until Dec. 15th to be fully vaccinated but the new deadline is extended to next month, under the new declaration.

It states that all employees must provide to the Human Resources director with evidence of having completed the full course of vaccination against COVID-19 that is approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization by Jan. 14, 2022. 

Employees whose full course of vaccination requires two doses, are reminded that the recommended interval between the first and second dose is 21-days after the Pfizer vaccine and 28 days for the Moderna vaccine.

Thus, an employee would need to receive the first Pfizer dose by Dec. 24, 2021 or the first Moderna dose by Dec. 17, 2021 in order to meet the Jan. 14, 2022 deadline, according to the new declaration, which keeps in place all other requirements for this specific issue including exemptions from the mandate, such as medical reasons and religious beliefs.

Also kept in place, is the requirement that no employee hired after Nov. 1, 2021 shall begin work until they demonstrate that they can comply with the full vaccination requirement or are granted an exemption.

“OVERSTAYERS” PROVISION

The previous declaration establishes the 2021 Amnesty Program, in which foreigners who are present in American Samoa who do not have legal status and are considered “overstayers” may apply at the Immigration Office for a P5 immigration status. And the amnesty program was originally scheduled from Nov. 12 through Dec. 13 this year.

Under the new declaration, the program — which has been available since Nov. 12, 2021 — “will conclude” on Jan. 13, 2022. Furthermore, applications submitted prior to or on Jan. 13, 2022 shall continue to be processed and decided by the Immigration Board.

The last Amnesty Program for the territory was in late 2019 during the measles epidemic, where many lives — especially of young children — were lost in neighboring Samoa and restrictions were placed over entry into the territory as well as a mass measles immunization drive.

Then Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga’s emergency declaration in early December included the “short amnesty” program, which was for 30-days and was later extended for an additional two weeks into the later part of January 2020.

OTHER RESTRICTIONS REMAIN

The new declaration maintains restrictions that full vaccination is required prior to entering American Samoa for any person who is 16 years or older, unless the person is not medically qualified.

It also maintains current restrictions, which continue the suspension of all entry permits until further notice with the exception of Guest Worker Permits issued for employment at the cannery or a call center pursuant to local law. And the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) has the authority to issue entry permits.

Persons allowed to enter must register with TALOFAPASS, websystem [talofapass.as.gov] and that the GAR is authorized to make exceptions and authorize the entry of persons into the territory without using the online travel program.

And travelers must show proof of a negative test or tests prior to arrival as required by the Health Department.

A new provision added to this section of the declaration states that: “Any person who makes false statements or provides fraudulent documents to TALOFAPASS will be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability.”

No explanation was provided by the Governor’s Office as to the reason for this new provision.

The new declaration continues the suspension of all regularly scheduled commercial passenger flights to and from American Samoa. Additionally, the GAR may authorize limited scheduled flights or authorize flights based on the needs of the territory.

The COVID-19 Task Force has been publicly announcing since August the resumption of Hawaiian Airlines commercial flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago on a limited basis. The last flight for this year was Dec. 6th while fights for the first-quarter of 2022 are: Jan. 6 and Jan. 27; Feb. 17; as well as Mar. 10th and Mar. 31st. The task force is working to finalized proposed flights for the 2nd quarter - from April to July.

There are also limited flights per week for the inter-Samoa route.

Click on attachement below to download full text of Declaration.