American Samoa confirms six Covid-19 cases at the border
American Samoa's Deputy Director of Health say six people who arrived on a Hawaiian Airlines flight have tested positive for Covid-19.
Photo: wikicommons
179 travellers arrived on the January 6 Hawaiian Airlines flight.
Health officials suspect that some of the travellers may have contracted the omicron variant.
Deputy Director of Health Vesi Fautanu said all were removed from the quarantine sites and taken to the alternate care facility in Tafuna., where they are to be quarantined for an extra 14 days.
He said all are fully vaccinated and are doing well.
US Labor dept Covid-19 testing rules applies to American Samoa
The US Department of Labor has confirmed its new vaccination and testing rule for Covid-19 applies to employers in American Samoa with at least 100 workers.
The Department said employers with at least 100 staff are required to have a mandatory vaccination policy or a policy that requires unvaccinated workers to be tested weekly and wear a face mask at work.
These employers must also provide paid time for workers to get the Covid-19 vaccine and ensure workers have paid sick leave to recover from any side effects that prevent them from working.
The rule was put on hold last November after it was challenged in federal court by employers in the US.
American Samoa's largest private employer, StarKist Samoa has already made it mandatory for its employees to be fully vaccinated and those with exemptions are either breastfeeding or have other medical reasons.
Government employees have been given until Friday January 14 to comply with the fully vaccinated mandate issued by the Governor.
Vanuatu Teachers Union unhappy with the sacking of its President and Secretary General
The Vanuatu Teachers Union has been thrown into disarray after the National Executive Council confirmed suspending then terminating its president Willie Abiut and Secretary General David Narai.
The Union's national executive council has also given notice of a month-long national strike for dismissing the pair.
The council has encouraged both men to challenge their terminations in court.
It claims the men are linked to alleged misappropriation of members' funds - which they have denied.
However the Daily Post newspaper is reporting both union leaders are appealing to the more than 16-hundred teachers NOT to go on strike - saying the union's executive doesn't have the power to fire them.
The union's executive said both leaders have already been replaced by new leaders.
Samoan scholarship students cannot travel in 2022
Samoan scholarship students who won awards in 2021 but couldn't travel to Australia, New Zealand or Fiji last year because of COVID-19 restrictions, have been told they cannot travel this year either.
TV1Samoa reports that a member of the scholarship committee said they're awaiting word from the various governments involved.
An attempt has been made by Australia and New Zealand to offer some of the students online classes while they wait for travel restrictions to end.
TV1Samoa reports the scholarship for the 2022 school year are not affected.
Nauru and the Solomon Islands have a new High Commissioner of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Nauru's President Lionel Aingimea has welcomed the UK's non-resident high commissioner to Nauru at a virtual presentation of credentials today.
Thomas Edward Coward is the new High Commissioner of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Nauru and the Solomon Islands.
High Commissioner Coward took up his appointment in December 2021, succeeding Dr Brian Jones.