New Zealand to test Samoa travellers on arrival

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 21 MARCH 2022: Travellers from Samoa to New Zealand will now be required to complete two rapid antigen tests upon arrival.

The Ministry of Health announced the change yesterday, as community transmission of Covid-19 is climbing quickly in Samoa with 196 active cases confirmed yesterday and the numbers rising.

Samoa discovered its first case of community transmission on Thursday night.

Travellers arriving on four specific flights over the coming weeks will be required to undergo two rapid antigen tests – the first within 36 hours of arriving, and the second on day five/six.

They will be issued with testing kits on arrival and the results must be reported either by an automated email survey or by calling 0800 432 010.

The four flights are:

• 19 March flight NZ993 to Auckland (already arrived)
• 22 March flight NZ993 to Auckland
• 29 March flight NZ993 to Auckland
• 10 April flight NZ993 to Auckland

The requirement does not apply to aircrew.

Samoa has been under Alert Level Three lockdown since Saturday and the cases are on the rise.

All international travel to and from Samoa have been suspended except for exceptional circumstances approved by the government.