GOVERNMENT STEPS UP HEALTH SCREENING IN PORTS

Health screenings for arriving visitors are immediately in effect, as the Samoan Government utilises the Faleolo Hospital near the Faleolo International Airport as a Quarantine site for possible infectious diseases, while continuing to monitor the global spread of the Coronavirus.

The measures put in place are for the utmost safety of Samoa, and also the protection of our destination.

The Government today stated that there are currently NO confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in Samoa, as travellers from countries with confirmed imported cases of the Coronavirus will require to present a printed medical clearance from their doctor three (3) days prior travelling to Samoa.

All travelling passengers inflight or on arrival to Samoa are required to fill out a Special Health Declaration Form.

These requirements are effective immediately starting on the 27th of January 2020.

The most recent countries with confirmed imported cases published by the Ministry of Health are: Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, France and USA.

This list of countries is updated every two days on the Ministry of Health website https://www.health.gov.ws and the Government website http://www.samoagovt.ws. 

Further to the above requirements:

• All Travellers originating from or transit through China must spend at least 14 days self-quarantine at country of last port that is free of the Coronavirus and must undergo medical clearance at least three (3) days as required, prior to final route to Samoa. This must also be their final stop before travelling to Samoa;

If in the event the traveller arrives within the 14-day period, health quarantine measures will be to return to the country of travel origin and will be considered if traveller is a nonresident;

• All sea port entries will be screened at the quarantine buoy before ships dock at the wharf.

All travellers departing Samoa for China and any country affected by the Coronavirus, are strongly recommended to postpone their travel arrangements unless necessary.

Preventive measures should be adhered to at all times in the event that travel cannot be postponed, and that all are to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the Coronavirus which include: fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

For more information - contact Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen of the Ministry of Health on Phones: (+685) 665-03 and (+685) 767-6015 or Email: robertt@health.gov.ws.

For any further information on Beautiful Samoa, please visit http://www.samoa.travel.