PAGO PAGO (Samoa News/Pacnews) — To assure the safety of American Samoans from the deadly Covid-19 virus when the first repatriation flight arrives today in the territory, Aua Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e Allen has petitioned the territorial House speaker for a chance to send 200 vials of the Covid-19 vaccine to treat all passenger on the first repatriation flight before they come to American Samoa.
Faimealelei said in open session that according to information he has heard, the virus is spreading inside the hotel where the 161 people are quarantined in Honolulu and that makes him very concerned about the safety of our people in the territory.
He said nothing can be done at this point to postpone the flight because government leaders have already made the decision. However, to make sure that the passengers are well protected and secure from the virus, they should be given the Covid-19 vaccine before they come home. He said the territory has enough supply of Covid-19 vaccine, so the 200 doses of Covid-19 vaccine could be transported to Honolulu through the air cargo that arrived there on Saturday.
Vice Speaker Fetu Fetui Jr. said he’s also concerned for the safety of the people — especially the young children and the elderly.
He said he’s not sure if the information he received was right but a lady contacted him from Honolulu said that she along with her parents who are part of the passengers for the first repatriation flight had already received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
“My dear fellow representatives, I believe that the actions by our leaders with the help of our task force to bring our people who had been stranded off island for many months is going smoothly through the help of our Heavenly Father. Give our hope and trust that God will protect American Samoa,” Fetu said.
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale acknowledged Faimealelei’s recommendation and said that he will bring up the issue during their meeting with the governor and the Senate president.
Concerns were raised in the House chamber last week after reports from the task force that five people were removed from quarantine in Honolulu after testing positive with the virus. The people are still under the care of the Hawaii State Health Department, and the total passengers for the first flight has been reduced from 166 to 161, according to Motusa T. Nua, acting director of Department of Health and also a member of the Task Force.
The Task Force said the flight was scheduled to arrive in the territory from Honolulu on Monday and passengers would be taken straight to the Tradewinds Hotel to begin the strict 14-day quarantine.
As of Tuesday last week, 7,146 people in American Samoa had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 954 people had already received their second doses.
Motusa told Samoa News that the target set by the task force is to vaccinate about 10,000 people before the arrival of the first repatriation flight from Honolulu.
