COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa

The government of American Samoa took first steps against the COVID-19 pandemic in American Samoa when it refused entry to incoming Hawaiians on an airplane. They were turned away with the stipulation that they had to go into a 14-day self-quarantine in Hawaii before entering the country. You will only be able to re-enter if you present a clearance certificate from the Hawaiian health authorities. Currently (as of May 31, 2020), all travelers, except those who have a US passport, must first be placed in a 14-day quarantine in Hawaii. The local government declared a state of emergency on American Samoa.

background

The pandemic started in China in December 2019 and affects the novel disease COVID-19. This is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the Coronaviridae group and belongs to the group of respiratory diseases . From March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the outbreak of the novel coronavirus as a global pandemic.

location

Location of American Samoa

American Samoa is one of five US overseas territories with a population of approximately 55,000. American Samoa is located in the southern Pacific as part of the Samoa Islands and adjoins the Independent State of Samoa to the southeast . In order to evaluate tests for the COVID-19 virus, they must be brought from the remote area to either laboratories 3,700 kilometers away in Hawaii or to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta by commercial flights to the United States. The test results would therefore often not be available after six days. This would be fatal if a pandemic broke out, criticize the local health authorities. In addition, accommodation in the only hospital in American Samoa, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Tropical Medical Center , could prove difficult in a pandemic because there is currently only room for ten coronavirus patients in a separate quarantine department. If there were more illnesses, only tents would be available for accommodation. The other four clinics are only equipped with basic medical equipment.

activities

On March 11th, the government of American Samoa tightened its entry policy and placed a quarantine on all arriving people. On March 14, half of the 210 passengers who arrived on a Hawaiian Airlines return flight had to be self-quarantined. After a trip to the USA , Governor Lolo Moliga had to go into self-isolation on March 16, 2020 on suspicion of COVID-19 infection, which was lifted shortly afterwards.

When the governor of American Samoa sent a list of requests for help to the American government on April 13, American Samoa had not yet recorded a single case of COVID disease. Thereupon US President Donald Trump declared in front of the press on April 19 that he would help to eliminate the "major disaster" (German: "Hauptversagen") of American Samoa, although up to that day there had not been a single case of COVID- 19 infection.

On May 8, 2020, combating the COVID-19 pandemic America-Samoas was cited as a successful strategy compared to other US islands. Entry stops were ordered very quickly, tests were initiated immediately and distance rules were enforced. In other publications, American Samoa was also cited as an example of a successful fight against COVID-19 for the entire United States.

Web links

• World Health Organization (WHO): Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports on the website www.who.int (English)
• Johns Hopkins CSSE : Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases. (English)
• Website World of Meters : real-time data of the Corona virus pandemic (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ American Samoa tightens entry requirements over Covid . In: Radio New Zealand on March 6, 2020
2. ↑ American Samoa. Traveler View . In: Center of Disease Control and Prevention, undated. Accessed May 31, 2020
3. ↑ ^{a b} Peter Georgiev, Adiel Kaplan: American Samoa's coronavirus conundrum: No way to test . In: NBC News of March 24, 2020
4. ↑ What is Covid-19? . In: Pulmonologists in the network from April 4, 2020
5. ↑ "Deeply concerned": WHO speaks of corona pandemic . In: Tagesschau from April 14, 2020
6. ↑ American Samoa establishes Covid-19 govt taskforce . In: Radio New Zealand on March 11, 2020
7. ↑ Half of flight's passengers to self-quarantine in American Samoa . In: Radio New Zealand on March 14, 2020
8. ^ Covid-19: American Samoa governor self-isolates as a precaution . In: Radio New Zealand on March 16, 2020
9. ^ Trump declares Covid-19 disaster for American Samoa . In: Radio New Zealand on April 19, 2020
10. ↑ Simon Romero: A Place in the US With No Covid-19? Look to American Samoa . In: New York Times, May 8, 2020
11. ↑ No COVID-19 Cases After Measles Campaign with MMR Vaccine in American Samoa According to World Organization . In: Globenewswire, May 10, 2020