Staff Writer
The New Zealand seasonal workers flight is still on schedule for take-off today from Faleolo International Airport before the 6.00pm COVID 19 lockdown tonight, Saturday 22 January 2022.
Normal strict quarantine restrictions are in place with only one family member allowed into the passenger terminal to see off the workers, while all others are confined outside the entrance gate.
Workers were already on the way to boarding the flight when the Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa made an emergency live address to officially announce the 44-hour lockdown.
Ironically, it was a flight reportedly lined up to fly out seasonal workers from Samoa for Australia last Wednesday, that is behind the health lockdown.
On board the inbound flight from Brisbane to Apia, were 73 repatriated passengers of whom 15 officially tested positive for the pandemic virus as of last Friday and are now isolated in health quarantine.
The virus infested flight from Australia canceled out a repatriation trip for travelers from New Zealand that was reportedly scheduled for seasonal workers from Samoa to travel on the turn around.
Flights scheduled in the coming weeks for Samoan seasonal workers to Australia and New Zealand are unlikely to be affected by any travel ban except for inbound repatriation flights.
Hundreds of workers are due to take up overseas seasonal contracts in the coming weeks.
All in – coming flights with repatriation passengers from Australia are being carefully considered with Government to decide whether to allow them or not.