Sen Magalei : Advise the governor to halt HA flights

budget-magalei

At Tuesday’s Senate session before senators packed up for a four week break prompted by cononavirus,  Senator Magalei Logovii requested the Senate President to advice the governor to halt Hawaiian Airlines flights for four weeks.

The Tuala-uta Senator that American Samoa was like a sitting duck waiting for the arrival of the virus through travelers from the US mainland and Hawaii.

He pointed to the situation in many  developed countries as well as cities like New York where medical resources have run out and health workers have been stretched thin due to COVID -19.

He said we are very fortunate that we don’t have a case but this may not last if we continue to allow flights in.

Magalei told KHJ News that his suggestion was to suspend Hawaiian Airlines flights for a month and then assess the situation,

The governor had said that he doesn’t want to discontinue the weekly Hawaiian Airlines flight in case of a medical emergency.

Senate President Gaoteote Palaie said in response to Magalei’s request that he would  advise the governor about the senators concerns

A second amended declaration for coronavirus issued yesterday requires that all inbound travelers undertake a COVID-19 test with a  negative result as a condition of boarding flights to American Samoa.

The requirement goes into effect tomorrow.

Magalei didn’t feel this offers enough protection because he said from news reports someone may not test positive but later catch th virus.  Plus he said allowing travelers in puts a burden on the government  to quarantine people , and the threat of exposure is increased.