american samoa travel restrictions

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American Samoa Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to American Samoa

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in public spaces, enclosed environments and public transportation.

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Can I travel to American Samoa from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter American Samoa.

Can I travel to American Samoa if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter American Samoa without restrictions.

Can I travel to American Samoa without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter American Samoa without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter American Samoa?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering American Samoa.

Can I travel to American Samoa without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in American Samoa?

Mask usage in American Samoa is not required in public spaces, enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in American Samoa?

Restaurants in American Samoa are open. Bars in American Samoa are .

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American Samoa Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

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After Your Trip

There are no notices currently in effect for American Samoa.

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to American Samoa.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages traveling to American Samoa.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

American Samoa is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats. CDC recommends rabies vaccination before travel only for people working directly with wildlife. These people may include veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers working with specimens from mammalian species.

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Typhoid - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Typhoid

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Avoid bug bites.

• Mosquito bite
• Avoid Bug Bites
• An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby

Airborne & droplet

• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Counsel your patients on actions they can take on their trip to stay healthy and safe.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in American Samoa. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in American Samoa include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call American Samoa’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of American Samoa may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in American Samoa, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Remind your patients to pack health and safety items. Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for American Samoa for a list of health-related items they should consider packing.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

American Samoa travel advice

Latest updates: The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Last updated: March 13, 2024 14:01 ET

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Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, american samoa - take normal security precautions.

Take normal security precautions in American Samoa.

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Petty and violent crime occurs on occasion. Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times.

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety are poor throughout the territory. Vehicle safety regulations aren’t regularly enforced. Traffic violations routinely occur.

Roads often cross small streams. Slow down and be careful when driving over such areas.

• Observe speed limits
• Avoid driving at night outside of main cities

Buses and taxis

Buses and taxis are available.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Tidal changes can cause powerful currents in the many coastal lagoons around the islands. Several fatal swimming accidents occur each year.

• Consult tour operators for information on possible hazards and safe swimming areas
• Follow the instructions and warnings of local authorities

General safety information

Don’t approach or feed stray dogs, which can become aggressive.

There’s no resident Canadian government office in American Samoa. The Australian High Commission in Apia, Samoa, provides consular assistance to Canadians in American Samoa under the Canada-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement.

We encourage you to  register  with the Australian High Commission to receive the latest information on situations and events that could affect your safety.

Australian High Commission

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the American Samoan authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

American Samoa is a territory of the United States but retains oversight of its own borders. Some entry and exit requirements, such as passport validity, differ from those of the United States.

More about entry to American Samoa  - American Samoa Immigration office

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave American Samoa.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Canadians can visit American Samoa without an entry permit or visa for a period of up to 30 days.

At least 48 hours prior to your arrival, you must apply for and receive authorization from the Entry Permit Waiver Program. Cruise ship passengers need not apply.

Online application - Entry Permit Waiver Program

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is not required to enter this country.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

In this destination, rabies  may be present in some wildlife species, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. 

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who will be working directly with wildlife. 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

• In this country,   dengue  is a risk to travellers. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

During your trip:

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Medical facilities are limited. Health-care facilities are adequate for routine treatments, but limited in range and availability. Immediate cash payment for health services is expected. Pack a  travel health kit , especially if you’ll be travelling away from major city centres.

There is a hyperbaric (decompression) chamber available at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center (Tel.: +1 684 633 1222) in Fagaalu on the island of Tutuila.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy prison sentences.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Additional restrictions

Samoa strictly regulates the import of firearms, pets, plant and animal products, and pornographic materials. Check customs with the Samoa Tourist Authority.

Samoa Tourist Authority - Local customs and culture

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

American Samoa law does not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. However, homosexuality is not widely accepted in American Samoan society.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers should carefully consider the risks of travelling to American Samoa.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in the United States.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of the United States, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

Traffic drives on the right.

You must carry an international driving permit if you plan on driving in American Samoa for 30 days or more.

More about the International Driving Permit

To avoid offending local sensitivities:

• dress conservatively
• behave discreetly
• respect religious and social traditions

The currency of American Samoa is the U.S. dollar.

Major credit cards are accepted at hotels, car-rental firms and airlines.

ATMs are available.

Seismic activity

American Samoa is prone to earthquakes. A tsunami can occur within minutes of a nearby earthquake and can travel long distances across the Pacific.

• If staying in accommodations on the coast, familiarize yourself with the region’s evacuation plans in the event of a tsunami warning

Rainy and cyclone season

The rainy and cyclone seasons in the South Pacific extend from November to April.

Severe rainstorms can cause flooding and landslides. Flooding and landslides have resulted in significant loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure. These events hamper the provision of essential services. Disruptions to air services and to water and power supplies may also occur.

• Keep informed of regional weather forecasts
• Avoid disaster areas
• Follow the instructions of local authorities

During a cyclone, hotel guests may be required to leave accommodations near the shore and move to safety centres inland. Travel to and from outer islands may be disrupted for some days.

Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons

Local services

Dial 911 for emergency assistance.

Consular assistance

There is no resident Canadian government office in American Samoa. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information from the High Commission of Australia to Samoa, in Apia, under the Canada-Australia Consular Services Sharing Agreement.

Sign up to receive email updates from the Australian government on situations and events that could affect your safety while in American Samoa.

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American Samoa

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna

For emergency consular assistance, call the High Commission of Australia to Samoa, in Apia, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

American Samoa Traveler Declaration

As traveler declaration faq print.

Modified on: Tue, 21 Feb, 2023 at 3:58 PM

You can access the AS Traveler Declaration portal via the following URL

• https://travelerdeclaration.as.gov
• This updated system is an online version of the paper Health Declaration form that all Travelers were required to fill out upon arrival in American Samoa prior to the COVID pandemic.  
• It is designed to allow Travelers to submit this information online within 48 hours before arrival to help expedite the arrival process in American Samoa.  The paper form will also be available to fill out upon arrival if this portal is not used.
• Unlike TALOFAPASS, travelers will NOT   be required to submit COVID vaccination information nor will they have to wait for government approval of travel documents in order to fly.
• While not a requirement, registering on this portal and filling out some basic information for your upcoming trip will allow you to receive a QR code that can be scanned upon arrival in American Samoa and will reduce the time spent waiting in line.  
• Simply complete your health declaration form online 48 hours before arrival in American Samoa to receive a QR code.
• If you are unable to use this portal, you will simply be required to complete a Health Declaration paper form upon arrival in American Samoa.  
• No, the AS Traveler Declaration portal is only used for travelers that are entering American Samoa by aircraft or boat.
• It's recommended to use the portal within 48 hours or less from the date of travel, as the questions are meant to assess health as close to your trip as possible.
• You may register and setup your account and profile further in advance if you wish, but it is advised to wait to submit an actual trip Health Declaration closer to your travel date.
• Yes, any traveler who previously registered in TALOFAPASS will have their information saved and c an use their same login information when using the AS Traveler Declaration Portal.
• The American Samoa Government has announced the end of the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, effective December 1st 2022. Travelers will no longer be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or apply for vaccination exemptions, in order to enter the territory. TalofaPass is no longer an entry requirement into American Samoa.
• To view the Governor of American Samoa's announcement to end the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration, effective December 1st 2022, CLICK HERE . You may also view this information directly on the America Samoa Government website at: https://www.americansamoa.gov/
• For Travel and Immigration information, please visit the Department of Legal Affairs web site where you can apply of OK Boards and Entry Permits prior to travel.
• No, all mandated requirements have been discontinued.  The AS Traveler Declaration portal solely exists as an alternative to expedite your arrival process in American Samoa.
• Minors cannot create their own AS Traveler Declaration account.  If a minor is required to travel alone, please have a parent or guardian create an account and then create a profile for the minor.  The parent/guardian can then complete the Travel Declaration on behalf of the minor.   
• Due to the smaller number of arrivals into American Samoa by private vessel, it is not required to use t he AS Traveler Declaration portal.  You will be able to manually  complete a Health Declaration paper form upon arrival in American Samoa.  
• For any further questions on what to expect upon arrival, you may contact the Port Authority directly.  Contact information can be found at  https://americansamoaport.as.gov/

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American Samoa DECLARATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND STATE OF EMERGENCY COVID-19

LOLO M. MOLIGA GOVERNOR

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AMERICAN SAMOA GOVERNMENT

Telephone: (684)633--4116 Fax: (684)633·2289

LEMANU P. MAUGA LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

DECLARATION OF CONTINUED PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR COVID-19

WHEREAS , the Office of the Governor and the Department of Health remain prepared to take all necessary measures to protect the health and welfare of residents of American Samoa; and

WHEREAS , the measles outbreak has ended as of March 9, 2020 and the containment measures have proved effective; and

WHEREAS , while measles related restrictions will be lifted, the efforts must now focus on preventing, containing, and responding to the imminent threat posed by the Novel Coronavirus ("covid-19") pandemic; and

WHEREAS , covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that had not been previously identified in humans which causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever and in more severe cases, pneumonia and is spread primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose; and

WHEREAS , no vaccine or cure for covid-19 currently exists; and

WHEREAS , the exponential speed at which the coronavirus is being propagated throughout the world is aided by carriers who are asymptomatic and the only surefire method of identifying these purveyors of the coronavirus is through testing and, yet, tests administered in the States and some of the U.S. Territories have been very limited due Test-Kit shortages; and

WHEREAS , as of March 18, 2020, 7,048 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States and Territories with 116 registered deaths reported since the COVID- I9 Declaration was promulgated and eight (8) weeks since the COVID-19 was declared in the United States; and

WHEREAS , the most vulnerable sector of the population is predominantly within the elderly population, particularly those with underlying and chronic health conditions such as blood disorders, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, cancer, recent pregnancy in the last two weeks, endocrine disorders (e.g. diabetes mellitus), metabolic disorders, heart disease, lung disease including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) or other chronic conditions associated with impaired lung function or that require home oxygen, and neurological, and neurodevelopment conditions (including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, stroke, intellectual dystrophy or spinal cord injury; and

WHEREAS , inordinate challenges expose the Territory of American Samoa to epic vulnerabilities subjecting all its residents to unprecedented health, economic, and social risks being remotely located in the South Pacific with Hawaii the nearest United States Jurisdiction 2,300 miles Northeast with connectivity provided solely by Hawaiian Airlines' two flights weekly along with a weekly Cargo flight; and

WHEREAS , American Samoa's total healthcare service delivery infrastructure is comprised of one acute care hospital and four (4) district health clinics with its operating capacity already being exceeded thus precipitating unparalleled fear over its potential collapse if the spread of the covid-19 mirrors the experience of some of the States; and

WHEREAS , our only acute care hospital, Lyndon Baines Johnson Tropical Medical Center, lacks the physical capacity to appropriately respond to epidemics and pandemics must now divert operating resources to address this emergency need thus causing the potential for medication and health supply shortages and expanding the scope of the health catastrophe; and

WHEREAS , the exclusion of the Territory of American Samoa from receiving test-kits which would empower our clinicians to test symptomatic residents and obtain results in real time cripples our efforts to prevent the spread and rendering immediate treatment to those with severe cases thereby improving health outcomes; and

WHEREAS , our healthcare professionals lack access to clinical and diagnostic tools to reasonably confirm positive coronavirus cases thereby triggering immediate healthcare protocols to ensure positive health outcomes for these individuals, and now must resort to an unacceptably long coronavirus confirmation process which prolongs the period of uncertainty, public panic, and compelling actions which might be deemed excessive; and

WHEREAS , the World Health Organization has declared covid-19 a global public health emergency; and

WHEREAS , President Trump declared a National Emergency Concerning Covid-19 on March 11,2020 and

WHEREAS , the federal government has imposed travel restrictions nationwide and local governments have instituted "social-distancing" policies including shutting down schools and bars and requiring home isolation of vulnerable populations; and

WHEREAS , the rapid spread of covid-19 and the lack of a vaccine or cure creates an imminent threat of outbreak here in American Samoa; and

WHEREAS , previous declarations have been issued for covid-19, the situation necessitates an updated and continued response from ASG in order to protect the health of our people; and

WHEREAS , this declaration extends to the entire geographic area of the Territory; and

WHEREAS , the imminent threat of outbreak in American Samoa constitutes a disaster justifying a continued state of emergency and activating all resources necessary to combat the spread of covid-19; and

WHEREAS , this declaration is a continuation of previous declarations and fully incorporates the facts set forth in those prior declarations with regard to covid-19; and

THEREFORE , I, Lolo M. Moliga, Governor of American Samoa, declare a continued public health emergency under ASCA 13.0301 et seq. and a state of emergency under ASCA 26.0101 et seq. for covid-19. The Emergency Operations Center shall continue to be activated to coordinate response efforts.

Pursuant to A.S.C.A. §13.0307 and §26.0105, I further declare that EFFECTIVE MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020:

All entry permits are suspended until further notice.

American Samoa's response will be guided by a color-coded system to meet the changing threat level. The following provides a guideline for escalating measures according to shifting situations. These restrictions will be initiated to the fullest extent possible but also may be subject to alteration as more information becomes available.

• The public is encouraged to avoid touching the face, thoroughly wash hands with soap for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer of more than 70% alcohol. The public is further advised to use the Comprehensive Sanitation Program for Community Facilities for guidance on disinfecting households.
• Travelers from affected foreign countries will be on full quarantine on arrival. For covid-19 related workers, quarantines will not be imposed.
• Travelers from affected US states will be subject to screening and quarantine at the discretion of DOH physicians. For covid-19 related workers, quarantines will not be imposed.
• US Nationals/Citizens that are local residents and Legal Alien Residents are to show proof of American Samoa residency through local ID, hospital ID, or utility bill. Proof of residency will exempt them from the OK Board process. All requests are to be routed through the Office of the Attorney General with the approval authority solely vested in the Attorney General and if she is off-island all OK Board requests will be reviewed and approved by the Governor.
• Unnecessary travel to affected foreign countries or US states is discouraged.
• ASG departments are to stagger staffing coverage and use a four (4) day work week for employees (10 hours/day) to ensure sufficient coverage but limited interpersonal exposure.
• Social distancing methods are to be encouraged such as video conferencing, phone calls, emails for communication.
• All off-island medical referrals to New Zealand are suspended. The option will be considered only for medical emergencies and be at the discretion of LBJ physicians.
• All businesses will only be allowed to operate from 6am to 6pm.
• All public gatherings are suspended until further notice. This includes, but is not limited to, bingo halls, rallies, political events, theaters, traditional gatherings, parks and recreation areas, flight night gatherings, and major sponsored events. Only private family gatherings of no more than ten (10) people will be permitted. DPS is tasked with ensuring that public gatherings disperse. The public is advised that failure to obey this restriction will be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor under ASCA § 13 .0323.
• Businesses may remain open but restaurants, bars, and nightclubs will be limited to no more than ten ( IO) person occupancy. Businesses are encouraged to keep their facilities sanitized.
• The Territorial Correctional Facility will be closed for visitation.
• Samoa Airways and Talofa Airways will be restricted to 2 flights per day.
• Community awareness continues to be a focus and the public is encouraged to maintain hygiene practices.
• Families will be encouraged to isolate with I designated family member to go to the store.
• All businesses will only be allowed to operate from 6am to 3pm.
• All restaurants will be allowed to provide take-out only and no dine-in service.
• The Hope House and Admitted Patients at LBJ will be closed for visitation.
• Travel restrictions are increased and all travelers will require an OK Board to enter and entry permits for foreign nationals will continue to be suspended. OK Board requirements will include submission of copies of itinerary, passport (including stamped pages), health clearance, and payment of $50 fee. Work related OK Boards will be considered but applications must include verification from employer. US Nationals/Citizens that are local residents and Legal Alien Residents are to show proof of American Samoa residency through local ID, hospital ID, or utility bill. Proof of residency will exempt them from the OK Board process. All requests are to be routed through the Office of the Attorney General.
• Unnecessary travel to affected areas will be limited.
• All public schools, private schools, daycares, and ASCC, will be closed until further notice. The Director of Department of Education is directed to develop and implement plans to continue education for students studying at home.
• Social distancing promotion continues.
• The Commerce Commission is to provide plans and emergency regulations for limiting capacity and implementing social distancing in public transportation.
• All ASG business travel is suspended.
• All ASG departments are to schedule 50% staffing levels and/or provide flex accommodation. Tier One employees will work on Monday/Wednesday. Tier Two employees will work Tuesday/Thursday. All employees will be compensated for 40 hours per week. First responders and essential personnel will be staffed for 24/7 operations.
• A Territorial Curfew of 9pm will be imposed.  
• All businesses will only be allowed to operate from 6am to 12pm.
• All passenger air and sea travel will be suspended.
• Ports of entry will be closed except for Military and approved air or sea cargo vessels.
• All public gatherings will be completely shut down.
• All ASG operations will be suspended except for first responders and essential employees.

The public is advised that the current threat level is CODE BLUE. Furthermore, any changes in Code level and the associated restrictions announced therein, will be fully incorporated into this declaration as if fully set forth in this declaration.

In accordance with ASCA § 26.0I0S(g)(I), the restrictions on "Hazard Pay" in ASAC §

4.041 l(b) are suspended. The Director of Department of Human Resources is tasked with developing a policy to compensate medical personnel, first responders, and all ASG employees that face increased risk and exposure associated with their duties.

In accordance with ASCA § 26.0IOS(g)(l), the maximum grant of four (4) hours for "Excused Absences" in ASAC § 4.05 I l(a)( 10) is suspended. The Director of Department of Human Resources is tasked with developing a policy to compensate all ASG personnel that are under quarantine or unable to attend work for reasons related to the restrictions imposed.

In accordance with ASCA § 26.0I0S(g)(l), ASCA § 41.0205(1) is partially suspended to the extent that the Board will temporarily suspend its hearings function as it relates to PS immigrant applications for emergency technical assistance to combat covid-19. The Attorney General is tasked with reviewing and deciding on these applications and in her absence from the Territory the Governor will review and render decisions on requests. The numerical limitations of ASCA § 41.0301 are likewise suspended.

The public is further advised that the covid-19 response is a multi-departmental effort. Each restriction put into place is for the protection of public health. Cooperation and compliance is necessary to prevent and slow down this disease. DOH and DPS will be tasked with coordinating enforcement to ensure the utmost compliance.

This declaration will be in effect for thirty (30) days and will expire on April 17, 2020. Exclusive authority for rendering all final decisions pertaining to the implementation of all prescribed dictates of this Emergency Declaration is vested solely in the Governor of the Territory of American Samoa.

Dated: March 18, 2020

LOLO M. MOLIGA Governor

American Samoa declares public health emergency, ramps up vaccination amid fears of measles outbreak

American Samoa has declared a public health emergency amid fears of a deadly measles outbreak.

Key points:

• Epidemiologist Scott Anesi says the aim is to fully vaccinate all children from grade 1 and above before reopening schools
• He says all active cases are currently in a stable condition and "doing well"
• Samoa has introduced vaccine requirements for all travellers from American Samoa

It follows a young girl testing positive to the viral infection, and a further 31 probable cases being investigated. 

The announcement prompted its nearest neighbour, Samoa, to impose travel restrictions on Wednesday.

From Monday, people arriving from American Samoa must show proof of a measles vaccination, while accompanying children under two years of age must have had at least a single vaccine dose.

Suspected cases include children who had been hospitalised, but were under six months old and ineligible for the vaccine.

"We are closing all of our schools," American Samoa's chief epidemiologist, Scott Anesi, said.

"We started the first round of closing the childhood education centres, as well as the child daycare centres.

"We are now moving into all the elementary schools and wrapping up our mass vaccination campaign."

The US territory has a 91 per cent vaccination rate, and health officials are visiting communities to track the spread of the disease.

Active cases 'doing well'

Dr Anesi said all current cases were "stable and doing well".

"With measles, the first four to five days are crucial so our clinical team are evaluating them but so far all are doing well," he said.

The goal was to get all school children, from grade 1 and above, fully vaccinated in order to reopen schools.

"All schools are required by law to check the vaccination status of children enrolled in schools above grade one."

Non-essential government services and inter-island ferries have been closed, and residents were placed under a dawn-to-dusk curfew while unvaccinated people have been told to place a red flag on their homes.

"The main response now is clinical investigations, contact tracing to identify active cases that are symptomatic in the community, get them tested, cared for, isolated and try to stem the flow of community transmission."

Dr Anesi acknowledged the public health response was being set back by a lack of local laboratory testing, which meant samples of probable cases had to be sent to the Hawaii State Laboratory for analysis.

"We are discussing turnaround times [at the Hawaii State Laboratory ]," he said.

"We will know more about this outbreak by the end of the week."

A highly contagious viral infection

In 2019 Samoa staged a two-day lockdown to contain a measles epidemic that killed at least 81 people , most of whom were children. 

Dr Anesi said they were treating the response as if "we would have widespread community transmission".

"In low-vaccinated populations, one person can spread measles to as many as 18 people," he said.

"That is why we have shut down schools, are limiting gatherings and working with the community."

According to the World Health Organization, measles is particularly deadly among children under the age of five.

The highly contagious viral infection killed millions of people each year before vaccination rates improved.

American Samoa is home to 50,000 people, including a large US military community. 

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Latest information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Samoa

Key Updates

• On 11 March, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic.
• Samoa declares the State of Emergency to come into effect on 22nd March 2020
• in exceptional circumstances approved by Cabinet, all international travel to and from Samoa by plane are ceased.
• For special travel considerations, please see the current State of Emergency Orders.

Information for International Travellers 

The current State of Emergency in Samoa requires that all international borders remain closed until further notice. Samoa remains free of COVID-19 and we hope to be able to welcome you back once it is safe. For any travellers who have already purchased international travel arrangements are advised to contact their booking agents for further information.

Airports, Flights & Cruiseships

Except in exceptional circumstances approved by Cabinet, all international travel to and from Samoa by plane are ceased. Repatriation of Samoan citizens to Samoa from American Samoa and vice versa may be possible via Samoa Airways. Mandatory COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements are in effect. For more information, please contact the Ministry of Health .

All boats and ships are prohibited access except in particular circumstances.

For further details, please see the current State of Emergency Orders . 

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A Place in the U.S. With No Covid-19? Look to American Samoa.

The territory, which has sealed itself off from the outside world, has no confirmed cases.

Some credit American Samoa’s good fortune to its enduring memories of the 1918 influenza epidemic, which wiped out much of neighboring Samoa’s population. Credit... Gabby Fa'ai'uaso for The New York Times

Supported by

By Simon Romero

• Published May 6, 2020 Updated May 8, 2020

The coronavirus death toll in the United States is climbing past 70,000, with thousands of new cases every day. But there is still one part of the country without a single confirmed case, much less a fatality: American Samoa, a palm-fringed Polynesian archipelago that has sealed itself off for nearly two months from the outside world.

Other U.S. islands lost their early battles to keep the infection out. But American Samoa’s success so far has been no accident, public health officials say. The territory moved swiftly to halt nearly all incoming flights, rapidly boosted testing ability and took advantage of social distancing strategies that had already been adopted in response to a measles outbreak at the end of last year.

The enduring trauma of the 1918 influenza pandemic, which left American Samoa relatively unscathed but wiped out a fifth of the population of neighboring independent Samoa, has also influenced aggressive anti-contagion moves at each stage of the crisis.

“Life in our bubble is somewhat unique compared to the rest of the world,” said Bishop Peter Brown, leader of the Roman Catholic church in American Samoa. Church services were quickly shut down when the coronavirus began its spread across the United States, he said.

Schools had been preparing to emerge from a measles closure in effect from December through early March when a “continuing” public health emergency was declared, effective on March 23.

“Apart from that, life is pretty normal, but supplies are somewhat sparse with shipping restricted,” Bishop Brown said. He added that many American Samoans were anxiously following the surging death toll on the mainland. “They need the help more than us,” he said.

The 55,000 people in the territory have been allowed to go to bars, nightclubs and restaurants, albeit in smaller numbers over the past month, with a limit of 10 customers at a time. Civil servants are working part time but have not stopped going into offices. The largest private employer, a tuna cannery with more than 2,000 workers, has continued to hum along.

In telephone interviews, text messages and social media postings, people in American Samoa described experiencing a surreal mixture of relief, isolation and apprehension over what the future holds for the territory, which lies about 1,600 miles from New Zealand and 2,200 miles from Hawaii.

“Since flights were suspended in March, the silence of the skies is eerie,” said Monica Miller, the news director at an operator of radio stations in the territory.

Eying the spread of the virus in parts of Asia, Gov. Lolo M. Moliga moved assertively weeks before some of his counterparts elsewhere in the United States to shield his constituents.

In early March, Mr. Moliga halted the territory’s two weekly flights to and from Hawaii, then did the same with flights to Apia, the capital of neighboring Samoa. Since then, one of the territory’s only lifelines is a cargo flight arriving with medical supplies and food once a week from Hawaii.

The territorial government also quickly formed a coronavirus task force in March, introducing a variety of moderate social distancing measures in addition to the church and school closures. For instance, public gatherings in bingo halls and theaters were suspended, and the territorial correctional facility was closed for visitation.

At the time, anxiety was running high over the potential for the virus to devastate American Samoa. Large parts of the population have conditions that could heighten the risk of dying from Covid-19, such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

Moreover, the territory has a shortage of medical workers and only one hospital, the Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center, with the capacity to treat about 10 coronavirus patients at a time.

When suspected cases began emerging in March, officials worried about having no way to analyze coronavirus tests except by submitting them to the nearest American public health laboratory, thousands of miles away in Hawaii, and waiting for the results.

“It was a really frightening and scary time, like flying blind in a storm,” said Larry Sanitoa, a member of the Fono, American Samoa’s bicameral legislature, and chairman of a nursing home called Hope House.

None of the tests came back positive. But tension over a sense of helplessness was building in the territory, which the United States annexed in 1900 while assembling an empire in the Pacific; Germany, then New Zealand, took possession of neighboring Samoa, part of the same archipelago.

The people of the territory are U.S. nationals, not citizens, meaning they can fight in the armed forces and live in the rest of the United States. But they are ineligible to hold many public jobs and cannot vote for president or run for office outside of American Samoa.

In a letter to President Trump in March, Mr. Moliga, the Democratic governor, said the territory needed assistance and was doing its part to help other Americans, including the hundreds who were aboard the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship when it was allowed to refuel in American Samoa after being turned away at ports in Fiji and French Polynesia.

Since then, the territory has obtained at least $35 million of federal aid to deal with the pandemic, along with more than 1,000 test kits and a machine to analyze them.

Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, the head of American Samoa’s coronavirus task force, said the dozens of tests performed since the machine arrived in mid-April were all negative.

With those results and no signs of local transmission of the virus, the territory remains the only part of the United States that is not under a major disaster declaration. Mr. Pereira said the territory’s response to recent disease outbreaks — Zika in 2016, dengue in 2017 and 2018, and measles in 2019 — influenced decisions early in the crisis.

“We’ve been preparing for the big one for some time,” he said.

Health officials were already on high alert after the measles outbreak in December, and watched with some horror as 83 people, the vast majority children younger than 5, were killed by the disease in neighboring Samoa.

Swift action during that outbreak prevented deaths from measles, evoking for many in American Samoa the response to the influenza pandemic a century ago. At that time, New Zealand, which ruled what is now independent Samoa, allowed the virus to spread. The flu killed about 8,500 in the colony in just two months.

In contrast, the naval governor of American Samoa isolated the territory, much as leaders are doing now. American Samoa was one of the few places in the world to emerge from the 1918 pandemic without any flu deaths .

“Stringent measures kept American Samoa free of deaths then, and we cannot afford to deviate from the same today,” said Tamari Mulitalo-Cheung, a writer who teaches at American Samoa Community College.

Being a far-flung archipelago in the Pacific may help. Other places in Oceania that have taken measures similar to American Samoa, including the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and independent Samoa, also remain among the world’s few places without confirmed coronavirus cases.

The virus has reached other parts of the United States in the Pacific, though with less devastating effects than parts of the mainland. Guam has had five deaths, while the virus has killed 17 people in Hawaii and two in the Northern Mariana Islands.

In Puerto Rico, the most populous United States territory, the virus has killed 99 people. Early action by Puerto Rican authorities, including imposing curfews and shutting businesses, is thought to have staved off a much higher death toll.

At this point, some in American Samoa are urging the authorities to relax some measures.

In a session of the legislature last week, Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui noted that he had already seen crowds at banks, restaurants and government offices. He questioned whether distancing measures were being broadly enforced, and called for an easing of restrictions.

There are also a few exceptions to American Samoa’s self-isolation. In addition to the cargo ships that are still allowed to dock and unload at the port, a private jet carrying three engineers for StarKist was permitted in April to land at the airport in Pago Pago, the capital, for repairs at the tuna cannery. The engineers had previously tested negative for the virus, said Mr. Pereira of the task force.

He insisted that the authorities were “erring on the side of caution.” Last week, the governor said that current restrictions would be maintained at least until June.

More American Samoans live outside the territory, in places like New Zealand, Hawaii and the mainland United States, than in the territory, making the travel restrictions especially challenging for families that find themselves separated.

“It’s extremely difficult,” said Eddie Vaouli, 42, an American Samoan who has been stranded in Hawaii since March 20. “It’s expensive in Honolulu.”

Some in the territory are also dealing with financial fallout. Donna Gurr, the owner of the largest flower shop in American Samoa, said her business volume had declined by about 50 percent since the distancing measures were introduced. Her store relies heavily on sales of leis for church services every Sunday.

Still, Ms. Gurr said she approved of the government’s pandemic response. “When and if this virus arrives, it will be devastating on us,” she said.

Going further, Ms. Gurr said she did not feel too isolated at the moment. “Maybe it hasn’t been long enough,” she said. “If this lasts for a year, I could feel different. But right now, I feel safe and secure.”

Simon Romero is a national correspondent based in Albuquerque, covering immigration and other issues. He was previously the bureau chief in Brazil and in Caracas, Venezuela, and reported on the global energy industry from Houston. More about Simon Romero

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Samoa announces travel restrictions after measles outbreak in American Samoa

Vaimoana Mase

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A public health emergency has been declared in American Samoa due to a measles outbreak. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Samoan authorities have announced strict travel restrictions for anyone arriving from neighbouring American Samoa, where a measles outbreak has been declared.

Samoa’s Ministry of Health yesterday announced that from Monday, May 1, anyone entering the country from American Samoa must be vaccinated against the highly contagious disease and show proof via a vaccine certificate before boarding.

The new rule includes infants as young as 6 months old.

Children aged between 6 months and 15 months are required to have a single dose. Those aged between 15 months and 24 months are to have completed two doses.

“All passengers should have completed two weeks (14 days) post-vaccination prior to travel,” the Samoan Ministry of Health says.

“Failure to provide a legitimate vaccination certificate or meet the above conditions will result in no boarding or denied entry into Samoa.”

American Samoa declares public health emergency

The travel restrictions come as American Samoan authorities are racing to stop the spread of disease in the community.

A declaration of public health emergency has been announced by the Office of the Governor in light of the situation.

As of yesterday, there has been one confirmed case of measles and 31 suspected or probable cases of the disease.

The cases include children under 6 months of age in hospital and who are not yet eligible for a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination.

Local authorities have been quick to react after a positive case of measles was identified in the community last Wednesday (local time).

All daycare facilities were shut down immediately and until further notice in a bid to contain and prevent the ongoing spread of the potentially deadly disease and parents were urged to make sure their children’s immunisation status was up-to-date.

Samoa’s devastating measles history

Samoa’s swift move to effectively shut its international borders to the US territory comes as no surprise, as the memory of its own fight against a measles outbreak still lingers.

Between September 2019 and January 2020, more than 5700 people in Samoa were struck with measles - the majority of them young children and infants.

Measures were put in place in a bid to stop the spread in the community - with schools closed and children banned from attending public gatherings and church services.

In just a few weeks, however, the small island nation began burying its children.

At one point, the entire country was put into lockdown, as health officials, doctors and nurses went door-to-door to vaccinate people.

Households with unvaccinated members were told to place a red flag outside their home - a biblical reference to the story of the Passover - so health staff knew who to visit.

By the end of the epidemic, a total of 83 people had died from the disease. The majority of the deaths were young children.

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Hawaii News

American samoa says restrictions on fishing are crippling the economy.

• By Kevin Knodell [email protected]
• April 14, 2024

KEVIN KNODELL / [email protected]

The crew of an Oahu-based Coast Guard C-130 monitors a Chinese fishing vessel that was transiting through American Samoan waters during an aerial patrol in the U.S. Pacific territory. American Samoa currently has no Coast Guard planes or vessels permanently based in the territory.

Chinese fishing boats sit moored in harbor in Apia, Western Samoa.

Fishing vessels sit moored next to the StarKist Samoa tuna cannery in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The cannery is central to the territory’s economy, accounting for 99.5% of all exports.

In a letter to the U.S. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in September, American Samoa’s Gov. Lemanu Mauga wrote that “fishing prohibitions not only weaken U.S. fisheries but also increase seafood imports and jeopardize U.S. food and national security.” Read more

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A proposal to expand fishing restrictions in the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands Area, referred to as PRIA, has sparked debate about conservation of Pacific fish populations, as well as an unlikely conversation about competition between the U.S. and China in the region.

Situated in the middle of Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa, PRIA encompasses Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Wake Island, Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef.

Parts of the region’s waters were blocked off from fishing through the establishment of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument by President George W. Bush in 2009, and it was expanded by President Barack Obama in 2014.

A new proposal from President Joe Biden in March 2023 would further expand it to protect 777,000 square miles of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, known as the EEZ — an area larger than Alaska — essentially blocking it all from fishing and making it the world’s largest marine protected area.

It’s based in part on proposals from environmental advocates in Hawaii, who have pushed for further protections. But officials in American Samoa have charged that the new restrictions would “destroy” their fishing industry and potentially lead to the closure of the StarKist Samoa cannery. According to the territory’s government, the cannery makes up 85% of American Samoa’s gross domestic product and is responsible for 99.5% of its exports.

In a letter to the U.S. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in September, American Samoa’s Gov. Lemanu Mauga wrote that “fishing prohibitions not only weaken U.S. fisheries but also increase seafood imports and jeopardize U.S. food and national security.” Mauga argued that “the activities of the American Samoa-based (fishing) fleet provide a critical counterbalance to China’s growing influence across the region” and called the proposal “another step in the U.S. ceding the Pacific to China.”

According to the Honolulu-­based Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, better known as Wespac, which oversees fisheries in Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific island territories, American Samoa’s fleet caught 5,000 metric tons of albacore tuna in 2007. But today it barely brings in more than 1,000.

Wespac, as well as local fishermen and officials in American Samoa, blame the growth in China’s fishing efforts in the area. William Sword, who hails from American Samoa and is the current council chair, said, “China really does not care for human rights, sustainable fishing or other countries’ boundaries or EEZs, and we should be tired of China catching our fish and selling it back to us.”

>> RELATED: American Samoa wants more help from the Coast Guard as Chinese fishing effort grows

But advocates for the sanctuary expansion say that it’s a necessary move that will ensure Pacific fish — and fishermen — will thrive for generations.

Rick Gaffney, a Hawaii fisherman and environmentalist with the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition, said sanctuaries are “absolutely essential to preserving the Pacific fisheries for America and everybody else. Climate change is causing fisheries to move already. And the larger the protected areas that exist, the more certainty there will be fish for the future. It’s that simple.”

Economic woes

The Pago Pago-based fleet fishes on the high seas and has for years paid to fish in the tuna-rich waters of neighboring Pacific Island countries. But as the Chinese fleet expands and makes inroads in neighboring countries, that’s become more challenging.

In 2014 China secured the right to fish in Kiribati, and Chinese companies began buying up permits en masse, essentially pushing out many U.S. flagged vessels. Since then, Kiribati has reduced the fishing time it had allotted to the U.S. fleet, and American fishermen have increasingly found the new arrangement uneconomical and looked elsewhere.

American commercial fishermen in the Pacific have long complained that as foreign fleets regularly flout regulations, they continue to get slapped with new restrictions that hamper their ability to compete. Mauga wrote in his letter that “the proposed National Marine Sanctuary would continue to displace U.S. fishing fleets to international waters where they must compete with foreign fishing fleets.”

When Biden announced plans to expand the sanctuary in March 2023, it drew quick praise from environmental advocates. But in American Samoa, more than 1,200 cannery workers signed a petition opposing the federal proposal.

In one of hundreds of comments submitted to the federal government from American Samoa in opposition, cannery worker Iosefa Tanuvasa wrote, “This company has provided for my family of 6 children. The proposal should have been more focused on the protection of our seas from illegal fishing by the Chinese fishing boats.”

During a public hearing on May 25, cannery worker Tanielu Malae said, “I have seven children between the ages of 2 and 17, they are all in school, and I have been supporting my family working for StarKist … do the people in Hawaii that made this proposal know what it is like for people like us?”

But William Aila Jr. — a prominent Hawaiian cultural practitioner and advocate for the sanctuary — said the situation is more complicated on the ground, telling the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that “people are not opposed to sanctuaries in American Samoa, I was there and that was a message that was loud and clear at the scoping session for the PRI marine sanctuary proposal.”

Some village chiefs have expressed support and several residents of the territory sit on the Sanctuary Advisory Council.

Aila said that Wespac and other opponents of the sanctuary are overstating the potential impacts to the cannery and the fishing fleet in Pago Pago. A May 2023 study by University of California, Santa Barbara scientists found that purse seiners based in American Samoa spent just over 4% of their time over the past five years in the proposed restricted area.

Aila also asserted that Wespac tends to side with commercial fishing interests and notes it has been the subject of federal investigations — in 2022 it was ordered to pay back $837,000 of more than $1.2 mil­lion flagged by federal auditors the previous year.

But the tuna industry plays an outsized role in American Samoa’s economy and even the territory’s infrastructure. Businesses in the territory rely on the ships bringing in supplies for the StarKist cannery — which otherwise would probably rarely stop in the remote islands — to also bring in goods they need, keeping shipping prices in check. Tankers make fuel deliveries that are split up to run both the cannery and the territory’s electrical system.

“Their concern, in terms of the impact to American Samoa is I think legitimate, because they really have no alternative economy right now,” said Aila. “Unfortunately, past governments and the current government of American Samoa have allowed that condition to occur — therefore, they’re at the whim of the cannery. But in terms of the 4% of the fish that is caught in the proposed closed area, our science basically says that it shouldn’t impact the cannery and they should more than make it up in other areas.”

But Archie Soliai, director of marine wildlife resources for American Samoa, said that 4% of the fleet’s catch is no small matter in light of the sharp decrease in tuna hauls since 2007.

As fishing hauls have decreased, so has the size of the fishing fleet in Pago Pago, from once more than 50 vessels to now just 26. Soliai said that just last month, another Pago Pago-based boat was sold and re-flagged to another country by its new owner.

Meanwhile, China’s fleet has increased from 100 vessels in the region in 2007 to now over 520, not including Chinese owned and operated vessels registered under other countries’ flags. In some cases, former American Samoa fishing boats have in fact been bought up by Chinese companies.

In Mauga’s letter, he writes that the U.S. is “losing influence in the international fisheries management organizations … due to weakened U.S. fisheries. These impacts are exacerbated by the loss of U.S. fishing grounds as a result of monument designations.”

Protecting fish

Gaffney said he shares concerns about the Chinese fleet’s activities in the region, but from a different point of view. He notes that China has invested heavily in developing ports and other facilities in places like Kiribati, which in 2021 opened up the Phoenix Islands Protected Area — once one of the world’s largest marine life sanctuaries — to Chinese fishing companies.

“I think we also need to be worried because they are effectively convincing some of the Pacific nations to take their money and their construction in exchange for opening up their sanctuaries to Chinese fishing,” said Gaffney.

Gaffney said the sanctuaries are critical, citing the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument northwest of Hawaii. A 2022 study led by two University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers and published in the journal Science found that catch rates of yellowfin tuna increased by 54% in nearby waters around Papahanau­mokuakea, while catch rates for all fish species combined increased by 8%.

Gaffney said that demonstrates the benefit to fishermen, explaining “if you look at Global Fishing Watch, you’ll see a solid line of fishing vessels working the 200 mile boundary of the protected area.”

American Samoa’s government cites other studies that have mixed appraisals of the effectiveness of large, deep ocean “blue water” sanctuaries compared to those focused on reefs and seamounts. Soliai argued that rather than expanding sanctuaries, there should be an international effort to cap the number of fishing vessels various countries can have in a region. This would cut down on overfishing by large distant-water fishing fleets — like China’s — to restore balance.

There is also debate on how best to actually enforce protections and prevent illegal fishing on the high seas and in the American EEZ. In 2020, the Coast Guard declared illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing — or IUU — the top global security threat in the high seas, and since then has worked to step up operations in the Pacific.

Mauga wrote that “thousands of foreign fishing boats, predominantly Chinese, surround that PRIA region border and often encroach and illegally fish upon it.”

Officials in American Samoa assert the Coast Guard — which has 11 vessels and three planes assigned to Oceania — lacks sufficient resources to monitor the vast blue space. American Samoa officials and some members of Wespac have argued that small numbers of U.S. flagged fishing boats with permits to fish legally can help serve as lookouts for foreign vessels fishing illegally in the U.S. EEZ.

“You’ve got U.S. vessels that are out there that can see and report, ‘We saw these guys here, they shouldn’t be fishing in these waters,’” said Soliai. “I think that’s one of the advantages of allowing U.S.-flagged vessels to fish in our EEZ, which includes this monument expansion area.”

Under international regulations, all commercial fishing vessels in the region are required to use vessel monitoring systems such as the Automatic Identification System, or AIS, to report their locations. Gaffney argued that “basically, through a multitude of tools already in use, the waters of the PRI, and around the PRI, are being monitored. Therefore, the assertion that fishing in PRI by U.S. vessels is necessary to monitor and/or prevent potential incursions by foreign flagged vessels, is specious at best.”

But some vessels have been known to turn off their tracking systems or manipulate their signals.

Gaffney noted there is a push to bring other technologies into the effort to account for that. In May 2022, the leaders of the United States, Australia, Japan and India — a group known as “the Quad” — signed an agreement to launch the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness in hopes of boosting information-sharing between the countries, along with plans for a network of new high-tech sensors and satellites to track “dark” vessels and document activity across vast stretches of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

But regardless of who spots and reports illegal fishing, actual enforcement for violations still overwhelmingly falls to the flag country a vessel is registered to. Soliai said that’s a problem when those countries are unable — or unwilling — to make vessels in their fleets comply.

”I think we need to be more realistic with our efforts,” said Soliai. “If we’re serious about IUU, let’s do something about it.”

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