167 repatriates test negative to COVID-19 [1]
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 - 19:33
The 167 passengers repatriated from Australia and Fiji on 3 March tested negative to CoViD-19 in their final round of testing yesterday, 23 March, confirmed Ministry of Health Acting CEO, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa today.
The passengers, including those who had travelled in Europe, India and Papua New Guinea, were released late yesterday afternoon after spending 21 days in quarantine.
The next lot of around 255 repatriated passengers in total are due to arrive on 31 March from New Zealand and Australia, and on 1 April from Fiji.
According to MEIDECC, Lulutai Airlines will be chartered by the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints to bring around 25 passengers, including its missionaries, from Fiji.
The flight from New Zealand will bring around 102 passengers including 90 who were supposed to return on the 3 March flight which was cancelled due to COVID lockdown restrictions in Auckland.
The flight from Australia is expected to bring around 128 passengers.
A total of 1898 passengers have been repatriated to date, since the border closed in March 2020.