Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Director of Health, Motusa Tuileama Nua assured representatives during his confirmation hearing last Thursday that all passengers on the repatriation flight arriving from Hawaii later this afternoon have completed their testing and are safe to enter the territory. All of them tested negative.

The majority of questions that Motusa fielded at the confirmation hearing related to the first repatriation flight from Honolulu which is due to arrive this afternoon.

Faipaule wanted assurances that residents will not be exposed to the travelers during quarantine at the Tradewinds Hotel. They also wanted to understand the process that that will be in place when travelers arrive at the Pago Pago International Airport.

According to Motusa, upon arrival, the travelers will be escorted straight from the aircraft to buses that are already set up for transportation, and they will be transported directly to the Tradewinds Hotel.

He added that the bus drivers must have completed the coronavirus vaccinations in order to be selected for the job and that all drivers would be suited up in protective equipment. It was also revealed that DoH is working with the Dept. of Public Works on the transportation plan.

It was during Motusa’s confirmation hearing that no stone was left unturned because representatives wanted to make sure residents are fully safeguarded when the first repatriation flight arrives this afternoon.

Tualauta Representative, Samuel Ioka Ale Meleisea questioned the use of private buses to transport travelers from the airport to the hotel instead of school buses. He also wanted to know if faamomoli or gifts for relatives from the travelers can be released when the flight arrives.

Motusa explained that the use of private buses is to avoid interruption of school if school buses were to be used. He added that all luggage will be decontaminated at the Tradewinds Hotel. The COVID-19 Task Force has not yet made a decision on whether faamomoli or gifts for relatives of the travelers can be released for pick-up at the hotel gate. No outsiders will be allowed onto the hotel compound throughout the 14-day quarantine period.

For the issue of family laundry, Motusa said here’s no need for families to pick up laundry of their relatives in quarantine. The hotel has laundry facilities to take care of this. The VA Center will be used to house any of the personnel involved with the quarantine operation if they do not wish to go home. This will help prevent possible exposure of their families.

Motusa explained that the number of travelers arriving today on the flights, pending the results of a final COVID-19 test before departure, is 159 and includes 4 travelers who require wheelchairs and 1 bed-bound traveler.

 “There are more than 270 seats on the Hawaiian Air plane so there is enough space for people to practice social distancing. Everyone will be wearing masks and there is nothing to worry about,” Motusa assured representatives.

Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e Allen wanted to know if there are enough nurses and medical staff to deal with the pressure once the flight arrives. Motusa said there will never be enough doctors, nurses and support staff. As such, the department has minimized regular clinics and prioritized the vaccination and quarantine operation, nevertheless, he said DoH still has its normal public health functions to perform.

Faimealelei also asked what are the rules for handling remains of those who died from coronavirus? He said that the reason he asked is because there are loves one who died from the virus in the States and families want to bring their loved ones home to be buried.

Motusa explained that families must provide a death certificate, a doctor’s report on the cause of death and other pertinent information for review by DOH. If approved the request must be reviewed and again approved by the chairman of the task force. Health staff would them be assigned to monitor all aspects of the funeral. Closed caskets are required for such funerals.

On Saturday, the Dept. of Health issued a statement and posted on its Facebook page, that the ASG-DoH team in Honolulu reported great news to the 159 repatriated passengers in quarantine at the White Sands Hotel that all of their COVID-19 test results were negative after completing three tests.

DoH said it also wanted to share this great news with others in the community — in the U.S. and American Samoa.

“We are grateful for the community's patience and pray that we can spread a spirit of hope throughout this time,” said DoH, whose announcement was also distributed yesterday morning by the Governor’s Office.

As of last Friday, 9,895 have already received their first dose of vaccine, while 1,001 have already received their second doses. Motusa said that about 7,000 viles of vaccine will arrive in the territory on the next cargo flight which was scheduled to arrive over the weekend.

Motusa has been Director of Health for the last 8 years and has been in charge during several unprecedented public health events such as the return of dengue fever, a measles outbreak and now the COVID-19 pandemic. He is now officially approved to be the Director of Health for the next four years after he was approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 13-3 last Friday. The Senate also approved Motusa last week.

CHANGE OF DOH PERSONNEL SHIFT

Samoa News has been unable to confirm that there is reportedly a ‘change of shift’ of local DoH personnel currently in Hawai’i working on the ASG Quarantine process happening when the first repatriation flight heads out to Pago.

Purportedly, Dr.Cecilia Alailima, who came up on the October Medical flight, and headed the ASG Quarantine in Honolulu, will be on the first repatriation flight, along with the many DOH staff members, comprising the total of travelers. It’s unknown if the total of 159 ‘returning’ repatriation passengers include this DoH change of shift.

Supposedly, a new DoH team of a doctor and DOH staff will be flying to Honolulu to take their place on the return flight, to get the second repatriation flight ready for stranded residents.

Samoa News reporter Fili Sagapolutele and Samoa News editor Rhonda Annesley contributed to this report.