All nine samples that were sent on the Coast Guard C-130 aircraft for COVID-19 testing in Honolulu are negative for the deadly virus.
This was confirmed by Director of Health Motusa Tuileama Nua yesterday.
There are 8 other samples in storage awaiting shipment to the Hawaii State Laboratory.
The 9 samples were airlifted to Honolulu on the US Coast Guard plane that delivered supplies like gowns, masks, gloves and face shields to help with the territory’s response to COVID-19.
The aircraft which arrived Wednesday afternoon, returned to Honolulu the next morning.
At the time of a Coronavirus Task Force meeting with Governor Lolo Moliga on Friday morning, the latest results had not been received.
DOH officials first revealed the test results at an Emergency Operations Center briefing yesterday.
So far all 12 tests conducted off island of persons in American Samoa under investigation for COVID-19 have been negative.
It’s not known how and when the 8 samples in storage will be sent to Honolulu for testing.
