There’s been no further word from ASG or the Coronavirus Task Force regarding the flights bringing special skilled and technical workers.
Yesterday, Talofa Airways had one flight but it didn’t bring any passengers from Samoa, just cargo.
An employee said that the AG’s Office had not cleared any travelers from Samoa.
The airline decided to operate a cargo only flight from Apia yesterday.
KHJ News understands that there had not been prior approval for the cargo flight and it was only after some negotiations that the cargo was cleared for release to business and individual recipients.
The return flight had one passenger booked for Faleolo to catch a connecting flight to New Zealand. However because the plane was delayed leaving, the passenger missed the connection.
Samoa Airways did not have any flights from Samoa this week.
Plans to bring doctors on a Fiji Airways charter that’s arriving at Faleolo today have been put on hold.
CEO of LBJ Hospital Faumuina John Faumuina said they were trying to bring four doctors 1 of whom had been stuck in Fiji since March and three new ones.
However COVID-19 tests and other requirements to meet both Samoa’s and local DOH rules could not be completed in time.
Samoa stipulated under new State of Emergency rules issued a few days ago that passengers traveling onwards to American Samoa from Fiji have to depart for the territory as soon as they arrive at Faleolo.
In addition travelers from the territory to Samoa must be have a negative COVID-19 test three days before arrival in Samoa.
