Six passengers reportedly not tested for COVID — were ‘ghost’ travelers

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Territorial Coordinating Officer (TCO), Samana Semo Ve’ave’a, who is also director of the local Department of Homeland Security (ASDHS), has responded to questions about the reported six travelers who arrived on Monday night’s Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu and were not tested upon arrival at Pago Pago International Airport.

Health Department Clinical Service director Dr. Elizabeth Lauvao informed the local media on Tuesday afternoon about the six travelers, who didn’t get COVID-19 tested upon arrival and that the matter has been referred to the offices of the Attorney General and the Territorial Coordinating Officer (TCO) for review.

No explanation was provided at the time as to why these passengers were not tested upon arrival, as per local protocol for all incoming travelers. And it has also raised questions from local residents, questioning local protocols and whether the government is showing favoritism.

Samana contacted Samoa News yesterday afternoon after a story in yesterday’s edition about the the incident — saying that his office conducted “research” into this matter and even reached out to the six individuals via social media and other forms of contact with the individuals names — as well as contacting the airline for the flight-passenger manifest.

These “passengers were never on the flight,” said Samana and repeated the statement twice during a brief phone interview. He reiterated that his office conducted the “research” into the matter and this was the outcome — that the travelers “were never on the flight”.

Samoa News learned yesterday morning that Samana was expected to make contact about this particular matter.