The planned stop over by a group of federal and military officials enroute to the US research base in Antarctica, which was to take place over the weekend, did not happen.
Governor Lolo Moliga sent his regrets to Lt Col Matthew Johnson USAF, that ”the mission cannot come through American Samoa because I cannot in good conscience subject our people to this deadly virus.”
The USAF had requested permission for three aircraft bringing 31 crewmembers supporting Operation DEEP FREEZE to overnight in American Samoa. The travelers were to make a stopover At the airport, spend the night at the Department of Health Quarantine Center then fly to New Zealand, and continue on to Antartica.
“Please know that we fully understand and are very much sensitive to the importance and significance of this mission to the United States’ continued presence in the Antarctic,” wrote Governor Lolo.
He pointed out the territory has struggled to demonstrate “our deep sense of patriotism while continuing to preempt the accidental entry of the Coronavirus into our home.”
He said, “American Samoa remains the only US Jurisdiction which has not been ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic and we have made great sacrifices to maintain and to continue our “Free Coronavirus Bubble.”
Lolo conveyed appreciation his appreciation for USAF efforts “to engage in protective protocols exhibiting sensitivity and support” of the territory’s efforts to keep American Samoa COVID-19 free.
He explained, “The perceived uncontrolled exponential surge in the number of COVID-19 cases and the corresponding uptick in the number of deaths have emboldened our resolve to take even hasher protective measures to eliminate any possible risk of accidental transmission.”
He pointed out that with the lack of concrete science-based data on the nature of the virus, adhering to preventative protocols “does not provide absolute guarantee of no virus transmission.”
The governor informed USAF Lt Col Johnson, “Just yesterday our neighbor, the Independent State of Samoa announced its first positive Coronavirus confirmed case which is now creating further threat and uncertainty for us here. We have been making difficult sacrifices since the beginning of our COVID-19 pandemic and we have not allowed any of our residents stranded in the United States to return home because we are afraid of the consequences given that our population here are very vulnerable because of major underlying conditions.
“Accordingly, I regret to inform you that this mission cannot come through American Samoa because I cannot in good conscience subject our people to this deadly virus. We are a small island with very limited resources, limited healthcare facilities and finite options if the virus does enter our shores. Our population is very vulnerable because of the high incidence of Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Diseases, and many other underlying medical conditions.”
