Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Medicaid State Agency office in a notice dated yesterday, from Honolulu on its Facebook page, announced that the fifth repatriation flight has been postponed from May 28 until June 01.

The announcement states that the postponement was in “light of recent break-through variant positive cases in Honolulu.”

“This change ensures the ongoing health, safety and security of all repatriates and safeguards our Territory from any potential COVID-19 transmission or exposure on island,” it says

“We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause. We ask for your understanding and cooperation. American Samoa is committed to the health and safety of all its residents on island and abroad,” it points out.

Additionally, the Repatriation Program is a pathway for stranded residents to return home safely to American Samoa in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The notice was quickly spread on social media yesterday by local residents and those currently off island. And word quickly spread on island here, about the postponement.

There has been no official statement from the COVID-19 Task Force on the postponement.

Meanwhile, the 263 passengers from the 4th repatriation flight have been released from quarantine — at Tradewinds Hotel and Fatuoaiga facility.