As of 11am serology testing was continuing of the 38 positive coronavirus test results in the second round of Covid tests for travelers from the January 27th flight.
The Department of Health is trying to weed out those who had contracted Covid-19 before or historical cases and making sure they won’t transmit the virus if released.
An initial 15 positive cases were identified after testing of those in quarantine at the Fatuoaiga Center and the DOH Alternate Care Facility, Tafuna.
And 23 were from the Tradewinds hotel.
When retesting of the initial positive cases was completed only five were identified as true positives; the other ten had Covid before.
Health Director Motusa Tuileama Nua said they’ve discovered through interviews that the others had not truthfully answered when they registered on TalofaPass.
He said DOH will be recommending changes for the TalofaPass registry to address this and other issues.
There were 274 passengers on the flight from Honolulu last Thursday. Three passengers and a quarantine staffer tested positive in the first round of testing.
Motusa says the number of true positives from the second round of testing will only be known after the serology testing of those in quarantine at Tradewinds is complete.
The travelers in quarantine were supposed to be released this morning however DOH has added an extra three days with intention to carry out another test before they are released on Monday if they yield negative results,
