The Medicaid flight that will test the new online system for screening of travelers entering American Samoa, while keeping the territory free of the deadly coronavirus is scheduled to depart Honolulu at 4:30 pm and arrive here at 9:30 tonight.
This is the first flight that will not require pre departure quarantine in Honolulu.
As of last Friday 140 passengers were confirmed for the flight.
At a press conference of the Covid-19 Task Force on Friday, Medicaid Director Sandra King Young explained in detail the process for registration on the TalofaPass website, the three Covid tests that travelers must undergo and the coverage provided by the Medicaid program for bonafide American Samoa residents.
Travelers need to be tested for Covid 19, 10 and 5 days and 48 hours before departure.
King-Young said from their experience with past flights, about 80% of travelers originate from or are destined for the US mainland while 20 percent are from or have Hawaii as their final destination.
The 10 day before departure test is conducted from wherever the traveler originates, but the other two must be conducted in Honolulu. The Medicaid Director explains the reason why.
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Medicaid is covering for the two tests for bonafide residents of American Samoa. Capture Diagnostics at Alamoana Mall is the designated test provider… no appointment is necessary and results will be provided almost immediately for uploading on the Talofa Pass registry.
King-Young and Chairman of the Covid Task Force Acting Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale said there would be kinks with the TalofaPass system which was launched a week ago Sunday and asked for the public’s patience.
They said the website provides numbers for travelers to call to speak to a human being if they encounter any problems and as this is a new system they want to hear of any problems which need to be addressed.
For those heading out on today’s Medicaid flight early check in is from 2pm to 4pm.
Ticket counters will then open From 4:30 pm and close promptly at 9:30 pm.
The TSA security check point is open from 8pm to 10 pm and anyone who arrives after 10pm will not be on the outbound flight.
