After hearing from the Chief Medical Officer at LBJ Hospital and Coronavirus Task Force member Dr Iotamo Saleapaga that there are no plans at this stage for repatriation flights, the House of representatives plans to send a resolution to the governor requesting flights to bring home residents who have been stranded off island due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Saleapaga was the only member of the Coronavirus Task force who showed up for a hearing of the House Health Committee this morning.
The main issue that the committee focused on is repatriation of residents who have been stuck in Hawaii and the mainland and a flight to take medical referrals off island.
Dr Saleapaga testified that a medical charter to take patients for off island treatment is being planned however there’s no plan for a repatriation flight to bring home stranded residents.
He said that the medical charter may happen within the next two weeks and as of now there are over 100 patients that need to be taken off island.
Dr Saleapaga made it clear however that the flight will not bring anyone from the mainland or Hawaii.
He said House members should be well aware of the state of the coronavirus pandemic in Hawaii and the mainland and while everyone feels for our people who have been crying to come home, the only way to protect the territory from this deadly virus is not to have any case reach our shores.
He said many Samoans have died from COVID-19 in Hawaii and other states.
And if the virus enters the territory it will spread like wildfire and the hospital’s 150 beds will be inadequate, and not enough doctors, nurses and support staff to take care of the sick.
He urged patience and restraint saying that there may be a vaccine by November and once the pandemic has been contained, lawmakers can travel as much as they want.
Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui didn’t hide his disappointment. He said it appeared that the Coronavirus Task Force is not considering or making any effort to bring our people from Hawaii.
He pointed out that ASG has an office in Hawaii that should be helping out with arrangements for a repatriation flight.
Fetu said Samoa has been bringing home its people from Australia and New Zealand and asked why we can’t do the same. He asked Dr Saleapaga if it was because our doctors are not prepared or qualified to do what’s necessary for repatriation flights.
The Manu’a lawmaker said inaction may affect their reelection efforts.
Dr Saleapaga responded, don’t bring what Samoa is doing and apply it to our situation.
The vice Speaker told him that in a conversation with Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua, he learned that DOH is ready with a plan for a repatriation flight in the event that one is approved.
Dr Saleapaga confirmed this but he said from his own personal opinion a repatriation flight is not advisable at this time. He said American Samoa remains the only part of the United States that is COVID free and we should be happy that we are safe.
Rep. Gafatasi Afalava asked if COVID-19 funding can be provided to help those local residents stuck off island. Dr Saleapaga said he wasn’t in a position to answer this question but he would recommend to the Task Force that financial assistance be given to those unable to return home.
Rep. Vesiai Poyer Samuelu said some of the local patients awaiting referral off island are critically ill and wondered why the medical flight wasn’t happening until two weeks time.
He said hundreds of millions of dollars have been reeved in covid money to protect the territory form the disease however this money is being used on for non covid related construction projects.
During the House session following the hearing, lawmakers agreed to send a resolution to the governor recommending a repatriation flight to bring home those stranded off island.
The resolution is to be introduced and approved tomorrow, the last day of the 36th Legislature.
