The Department of Health will be forwarding to the Attorney General’s Office the names of travelers on the last Hawaiian Airlines flight who didn’t answer truthfully on the TalofaPass registry.
The culprits face the possibility of prosecution.
Director of Health, Motusa Tuileama Nua said this was one of the issues discussed at the Covid Task Force meeting yesterday.
The same goes for passengers who acted unruly, damaging furniture and equipment at the quarantine sites.
The Director said evidence of this were videos and photos posted on FaceBook after travelers in quarantine were told that their quarantine period will be extended.
According to the Health Director all travelers will now be informed to expect up to 14 days in quarantine in American Samoa. He said the medical team can shorten the days depending on the test results. “But it’s easier to shorten quarantine days than to extend them.”
Motusa said the January 27th flight was the toughest one they’ve had to deal with since repatriation flights began last February.
The February 17th Hawaiian Airlines flight will still operate.
The Director told KHJ News that Beginning with the March flight there will be a change in the Covid test requirements. The test 10-days prior to travel will be removed leaving just two tests. One five days before travel and the second one 48 or 24 hours before travel.
It was also decided at yesterday’s Task Force meeting that DOH staff in Hawaii will no longer be involved or be present at Honolulu Airport for the screening of travelers.
In other related news, Motusa said some of DOH’s primary clinics will be impacted with the replacement of quarantine staff at the Tradewinds Hotel due to workers testing positive for coronavirus.
He said 6 medical staff and ten logistical staff who were working at the quarantine sites have been replaced.
“This will slow down some of our primary clinics,” he said.
