Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Two more medical charters are now scheduled for this month including one that will be used as a “test flight” bringing in up to 100 passengers, including medical personnel and government officials who will test local preparations when commercial flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago resume next month operated by Hawaiian Airlines.

The acting governor, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo V. Ale revealed this during a COVID-19 Task Force news conference Wednesday afternoon to provide updates on various issues relating to COVID on island.

For the medical charter flights, the last one that was initially scheduled, with the incoming plane being ferried in, departed yesterday afternoon. However, Talauega announced at the news conference that two more medical charters are now scheduled for Aug. 19th and Aug. 30th — which this will be a “test flight”.

He explained that the “test flight” will bring about 50 to 100 passengers to test local preparations when commercial flights resume by Hawaiian Airlines as currently planned for Sept. 13th. He noted that quarantine would no longer be required in Honolulu when these flights resume, although travelers will be required to quarantine locally.

He said passengers selected for the test-flight include those needed by the government for this service. That means, the travelers include doctors and others as well as government leaders who need to be on island for operation of this service.

The news media shared with Talauega, testimony earlier this week by ASG Medicaid Office director Sandra-King Young during her office’s budget hearing, that the last Medicaid charter for outbound patients and other travelers was yesterday, due to the lack of local matching funds for Medicaid.

Asked if there are new funds available for the added-two medical charters, Talauega said yes, and noted that travelers who are not paid for by Medicaid, are paying their own airfares.

Regarding local quarantine sites, it’s the Tradewinds Hotel — which is the main site — the ASG quarantine center in Tafuna behind the Health Department clinic, that has two buildings, each with 10 rooms, and also available for use is Fatuoaiga.

He confirmed, responding to a media question, that the airport hanger, which has been renovated and upgraded is the fourth quarantine site but didn’t give further details.

The task force had announced following a meeting earlier this month that postponing the re-start of commercial flights from August 26th to Sept.13th is due to a variety of factors including a surge in cases across the U.S from the delta variant, the “TALOFA Pass” web-system still undergoing the procurement process, and the need for frontline workers to recuperate after consecutive repatriation flights since February.

The procurement process is conducted by the Procurement Office, which issued a Request for Proposals for the “American Samoa Safe Travels Program” (ASSTP) web-system and Talauega referred to this new name of the project when responding to media questions.

According to the acting governor, none of the Task force members are involved in the procurement process for the bidding process. He said that the task force had discussed whether or not the project should go out for bid and it was the decision to carry it out, and provided the dates and information to the Chief Procurement Officer.

Asked as to how much money is allocated for the web-system project, Talauega first pointed out that funding for all of the planning is focused on the territory’s allocation from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

He said a report by ASG’s ARPA Office outlines budget allocations for various projects and programs. And funding for phase two of the repatriation program, which is re-opening of commercial flights, is about $10 million from ARPA funds — which includes flights, quarantine in the territory as well as plans to set-up a special quarantine unit, and “systems” such as an electronic system or manual system to screen travelers wanting to come to the territory.

He said the $10 million is not specific for the “Safe Travels” web-system, which he says plays a vital role in screening travelers to the territory by ensuring that the deadly coronavirus does not enter our shores through a passenger.

He pointed out that the task force wants the web-system to make it easier for travelers to provide their required travel information instead of a manual system in which the traveler would have to call the territory and fax documents.

With the web system, he said the traveler is able to register online, and upload to the system required documents, such as proof of COVID-19 vaccination records — which are then reviewed by local officials.

And there are three COVID tests required before passengers board the flight: 10-days out prior to travel; 5-days out, and 48-hours out — which is revised from last month — that the last test be 24-hours before boarding.

 All results are uploaded to the web-system and the traveler will receive a “code” via email for final approval, according to the acting governor, who reiterated that this is the current plan and will be finalized upon completion of the procurement process.

No details at press time as to when Procurement Office will award the contractor for the web-system.