Amid the community spread of Covid-19 in American Samoa, nursing staff at the territory's only hospital have been placed on leave for failing to comply with covid-19 mandates.

Samoa News reports several nurses at LBJ Medical Center have been placed on leave without pay after they failed to comply with the Governor's mandate for all first responders and health workers to be fully vaccinated for covid-19.

Some nurses believe the decision violates their constitutional rights and are calling on the government to reconsider.

"I worked so hard for my annual leaves and sick leaves for all these years of my service and now they did this to me and other fellow co-workers," one nurse said.

"This is ridiculous and our government leaders must do something about it."

Two nurses put on leave without pay in March said their families are now facing financial hardship.

All government employees have been required to be fully vaccinated since late last year, while the booster shot deadline for health care workers and first responders was April 13.