Yesterday we reported on a Coast Guard C-130 aircraft with about 8 crew members on board which arrived yesterday morning and overnighted here.
We learned in an interview with the commanding officer that they went through the Department of Health screening upon arrival.
KHJ News asked the Chairman of the Coronavirus Task Force Iulogologo Joseph Pereira about this given that Governor Lolo Moliga had turned down a request for the Delta Air Lines crew that picked up LDS missionaries yesterday to spend the night here due to coronavirus concerns.
HR said this was an emergency trip by the US Coast Guard to investigate a potential violation within our Exclusive Economic Zone.
He added this was an essential service and activity which needed to be addressed.
And he told KHJ News “supposedly the crew had been cleared in Hawaii relative to having health certificates.”
The Coast Guard plane which delivered COVID-19 supplies the week before last also overnighted and they had been tested in Hawaii for coronavirus before they traveled to the territory.
The C-130 that arrived yesterday is scheduled to depart at 9:30 this morning.
