The Covid-19 Task Force plans to have six more flights to bring home stranded residents before ending the repatriation program after July.
There will be two flights each for the months of May, June and July. The dates for the remaining flights are: May 12th, May 28th, June 13th, June 29th, July 15th and July 31st.
A press release from the Task Force says more than 270 travelers planning to make the upcoming flight on May 12 are now being quarantined at the Ohana East Hotel.
Their first COVID test was conducted on May 3rd and the results will determine the number of travelers that will continue the quarantine period.
KHJ News has asked for the test results as they were not included in the press release.
Those with positive results are referred to the Hawaii Department of Health for isolation and other requirements.
Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua, who is now overseeing operations for the repat program in Hawaii, report# that 105 of the travelers have been vaccinated.
KHJ News understands that FOH’s lead person in Honolulu Dr Monita Adip has been removed and would be returning home on the the upcoming repatriation flight.
With more travelers expected on this flight, the Task Force is looking at two quarantine locations, the Tradewinds Hotel and the Alternate Care Facility (ACF) at the DOH.
Task Force Chairman Lieutenant Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale said the government will be upgrading two additional sites – one at the airport and at Fatuoaiga. These will serve as backup sites and can also be used to quarantine passengers from flights from Samoa and other areas.
Talauega also revealed at the Task Force meeting yesterday that the medical clearance form will no longer be required before entering quarantine in Honolulu. All that’s needed is a negative COVID test result taken 72 hours before the traveler entes quarantine in Hawaii.
Meanwhile the non-infectious male passenger who travelled on the 3rd repatriation flight last month has been released after 14 days of quarantine and monitoring by the Department of Health.
DOH epidemiologist Dr. Aifili John Tufa said the medical community decided to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, which do not recommend retesting of patients within three months of their first bout of COVID as long as they do not develop new symptoms.
Dr. Aifili said the male traveler and his family members are all asymptomatic and they were released on Friday.
