Let’s take a look at the latest data concerning Hawaii virus charges and what specialists are saying concerning tourism reopening.
Declining Hawaii COVID-19 Instances
After Hawaii’s August surge in COVID-19 circumstances, which prompted a response by the U.S. Surgeon Normal and a second stay-at-home order, the virus load is trending downwards. The positivity price can also be trending under 5%. Extra importantly, the state’s healthcare system, which was being stretched partially as a result of a staffing shortage, is in a greater place with fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations.
By September 8, 2020, Hawaii has tallied 10,025 circumstances, which represents 0.7% of the state’s inhabitants. Solely roughly 31% of these circumstances are thought-about to be recovered.
Oahu has skilled that overwhelming majority of circumstances. The island’s mayor extended stay-at-home orders for one more two weeks by way of September 23, 2020.
Will the state open tourism with the pre-travel testing program October 1st?
Maybe Hawaii’s most vocal particular person all through this pandemic is Lt. Gov. Josh Inexperienced. In an editorial column for the Honolulu Star Advertiser, he outlines his ideas for defeating COVID-19 and the economic impact. He signifies that Hawaii can reopen tourism October 1st with the pre-travel testing program. In one other article on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, he signifies that the pre-arrivals testing plan is able to go as soon as Gov. Ige approves it. Up to now, only a few particulars of the pre-travel testing program have been launched.
Although the lieutenant governor appears optimistic that the pre-travel testing program can start October 1st, Hawaii lodges introduced extra pending layoffs and furlough notices final week. That seems to be lost faith in the reopening plans. Sadly, there’s a long list of employers, largely hospitality-related, who’ve introduced Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN).
Even when the state does open tourism, the variety of guests is anticipated to be a fraction of what it was once. Previous to the pandemic 30,000 to 35,000 individuals arrived within the state every day. Per the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Affiliation, says he’d be glad in the event that they hit 5,000 a day initially of reopening. Lt. Gov. Inexperienced thinks arrivals could possibly be within the 6,000 to eight,000 per day vary.
Officers say that lodges want 4 to six-weeks discover to reopen. We’re nearly three weeks away from October 1st and the pre-arrivals testing plan seems to be in limbo. If all the things that’s been acknowledged by officers and trade specialists holds true, a October 1st begin appears unlikely.
