Social travellers have inundated the repatriation program - Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says they are currently having a logistical challenge in providing the support for testing during quarantine because of the large volume of social travellers that have inundated the repatriation program.

He says they ask those travellers undergoing quarantine in the North to be patient as they continue their protocols to protect the North while the vaccination program continues its rollout.

Doctor Fong stresses that for the North, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is supporting a repatriation program and not a social travel program.

He says as such travel for short-term goals is likely to be adversely affected if a person turns out positive while in quarantine.