At a press convention immediately, Monday, July 13, Hawaii Governor David Ige introduced a postponement of the Hawaii COVID-19 pre-testing travel program for Hawaii guests to keep away from the present obligatory 14-day quarantine required of Hawaii guests. The earlier date of August 1 for the implementation of this system is now delayed, not less than, by the month of August. The quarantine will stay in place.
Governor Ige famous three essential components within the determination, made with the enter of the leaders of Hawaii’s counties who had urged the Governor to rethink the August 1 implementation of the pre-testing program. The Honolulu Metropolis Council voted unanimously to approve a decision asking the Governor to think about delay this system, and the mayors of Neighbor Island counties expressed comparable issues.
First, a startling, document variety of new instances of Hawaii COVID-19 had been reported over the previous weekend. Three new COVID deaths in Hawaii had been confirmed this Monday morning. That’s an alarming spike following a transparent drop and plateau of instances of the virus in Hawaii.
Second, the choice was made following grizzly, document spikes in US Mainland cities of reported instances, hospitalizations, and deaths of COVID-19. Lots of these spikes occurred (and are occurring) in states like California, Arizona, Texas, and Nevada. Every of these states are dwelling to main departure factors for vacationers to Hawaii.
Third, Governor Ige stated a “breakdown of the provision chain” in COVID-19 testing supplies and tools was an element within the determination to delay the pre-testing coverage. Whereas in-state testing can return outcomes, typically, inside 48 hours, exams taken on or despatched to the mainland can take from 5-10 days to return outcomes. That renders Hawaii’s 72-hour window for exemption from quarantine moot for hopeful Hawaii guests, and for officers and residents dedicated to stopping the unfold of COVID.
Ige famous at immediately’s presser that the outbreaks of the virus are “not in management” on the US mainland and that there “is a transparent lack of federal coverage” to assist US states and counties handle the illness. “We don’t consider that the scenario will change,” Ige stated.
What guests ought to take manner from immediately’s press convention is that the obligatory 14-day quarantine stays in impact by August. Guests must also contemplate the truth that the actions of different communities on the US Mainland will proceed to have an effect on insurance policies enacted by Hawaii’s elected and appointed officers. We need to stay, as Well being Director Bruce Anderson put it, “the healthiest place within the nation”.
Need to come to Hawaii? Put on a masks at dwelling. The individuals of Hawaii and their elected and appointed officers aren’t keen to sacrifice public well being and security to accommodate guests unconvinced or unconcerned concerning the additional impression of COVID-19 in Hawaii. It’s already calamitous.
Hawaii Aloha Journey proprietor Bruce Fisher says of immediately’s announcement, “We’re genuinely upset.” He’ll now have to tell dozens of purchasers that their holidays plans, some made many months upfront of onset of the pandemic, should be modified or cancelled altogether. Happily, journey insurance coverage and rebookings can be found.
Bruce, like everybody in Hawaii’s journey trade, is annoyed on the transferring goalposts of reopening Hawaii journey. Leaders within the sector have been advised {that a} July opening was attainable, then an August opening, and now, perhaps, September. Though he’s upset by the extension of the quarantine requirement, Bruce says, “It was anticipated.”
We right here at Hawaii Aloha Journey try to be the eyes and the ears, the blood, sweat and tears of these on the bottom for guests planning a Hawaii trip. Stay with us for the newest insights on the way forward for Hawaii holidays.
Posted by: Jamie Winpenny
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