A total of 137 passengers were on last night’s test flight from Honolulu, which arrived at 9:23 pm.
A press release from the Covid-19 Task Force says 4 passengers were removed due to positive COVID test results, 11 for coming in close contact with the positive cases and 1 partially vaccinated traveler who dropped out at the last minute.
Acting Director of Health Vesi Fautanu Jr had told a House hearing yesterday that 7 people had been removed because they tested positive in their last Covid test, 48 hours before departure.
The tarmac was reported to be filled with personnel from the departments of Health, Public Safety, and Homeland Security in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Shortly after the plane landed, seven aiga buses made their way onto the tarmac followed by Dial a Ride vehicles.
As passengers disembarked, they were directed onto the aiga buses and driven straight to the Tradewinds Hotel.
Wheelchair bound passengers were the last to come off the Hawaiian Airlines plane,
Police vehicles led the convoy of buses and vans and even at the late hour some relatives stood by the roadside with signs of welcome.
At the hotel, the travelers were directed to their rooms and were not allowed out.
Customs and Immigration clearances were deliberately left to be done the following day as the focus was making sure the passengers got off the plane, onto buses and straight into their hotel rooms with minimal contact.
The operation was closely monitored by members of the Task Force from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the Homeland Security headquarters in Tafuna led by Acting Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale, and Secretary of Samoan Affairs Mauga Tasi Asuega.
About a dozen support staff such as Public Works employees and aiga bus drivers who transported the passengers to the Tradewinds Hotel are being quarantined separately at the Alternate Care Facility (ACF) at the Department of Health.
The outbound flight comprised 181 travelers which included off-island medical referrals and regular paying travelers.
