The Tafuna High School parents Teacher Assosciation has asked the ASG Coronavirus Task Force to reconsider the use of the Tafuna High School Gymnasium as a quarantine center.
Both the Tafuna High School Gymnasium and the newly completed Tafuna Elementary gym have been listed as quarantine sites in Emergency Operation Center briefings.
Tafuna High School PTA President William Spitzenberg conveyed a request from the PTA to the Task Force Chairman Iulogologo Joseph Pereira to please reconsider the use of their school gym.
He listed the following reasons:
- The Tafuna Gymnasium is not suited and does not meet the requirements of
a COVID-19 quarantine facility; - Teachers are still reporting to work each day at the school and will be
affected by this; - The gym is in close proximity to the Office of Motor vehicles where residents exercise;
- The facility is not secure as the security fence surrounding the campus
has several sections with long lengths of missing fencing and damaged
gates; - It will be a very uncomfortable experience for the quarantined
individuals as the gymnasium is open to the elements with no fans, no walls
and the open layout allows mosquitoes and other critters to roam freely.
Spitzenberg said, “We understand the urgency of the situation and the need for quarantine facilities. But we believe a much better facility is one that already meets the quarantine facility requirements with separate rooms and all the amenities needed (bathrooms, showers, beds, etc.) without additional work.”
He said local hotels and motels are already equipped with all these amenities and with no tourists coming in, these facilities should be available for use.
The Tafuna High School PTA recommends that the Task Force work with the hotel and motel owners on a special rate for this emergency, noting that federal help is on the way.
Spitzenberg said, “This will benefit both the government and the private sector while boosting our fragile economy during this difficult time.”
He reinforced Tafuna High School PTA’s request for the task force to reconsider its decision and remove THS from the list of quarantine facilities and replace it with Tradewinds Hotel and/or Airport Inn.
“Both these quarantine ready facilities are within 5 minutes of the Tafuna
International Airport,” said Spitzenberg.
