Kauai in search of to choose out of Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program beginning December 1, 2020
Yesterday, Kauai’s Mayor Kawakami requested approval to choose out of the state of Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program beginning December 1, 2020. If accepted all vacationers to Kauai can be topic to a compulsory 14-day quarantine, no matter testing. Right here’s an besides from the County of Kauai’s announcement.
On Tuesday, Mayor Derek S.Okay. Kawakami forwarded to Gov. David Ige proposed Mayor’s Emergency Rule 23, which might quickly pause Kaua‘i’s participation within the state’s Protected Travels pre-travel testing program and require incoming vacationers to Kaua‘i to quarantine for the complete 14 days no matter testing.
“We face alarming COVID-19 numbers on our island in addition to throughout the nation,” stated Mayor Kawakami. “This isn’t only a vacationer downside. Practically half of our current journey circumstances are Kaua‘i residents who returned house. We all know {that a} single, pre-travel check has not stopped the virus from reaching our island and we’re saddened to report our first on-island loss of life. We should take motion to stop the additional unfold of illness right here.”
In an try to keep away from reverting again to a compulsory 14-day quarantine, Mayor Kawakami proposed Rule 21 final Monday, which might have required incoming Kaua‘i vacationers to take a post-travel check after 72 hours on island with a shorter quarantine interval. Nevertheless, this second-test proposal has not obtained approval, additional prompting the Mayor to suggest Rule 23 to quickly opt-out of the state’s Protected Travels program.
“For the reason that launch of the only pre-travel testing program on October 15, we’ve confirmed 58 new circumstances and our first on-island loss of life,” stated Dr. Janet Berreman, Kaua‘i District Well being Officer. “Forty-eight of these circumstances had been vacationers—27 guests and 21 residents. Most of them had a damaging pre-travel check, however nonetheless got here down with COVID right here on Kaua‘i. The opposite 10 circumstances, in residents who didn’t journey, are a good larger trigger for alarm. 4 of those are residents who had been in shut contact with vacationers. The opposite six are residents for whom we can’t establish any hyperlink to a traveler—these are circumstances of group transmission. We have now not seen sustained group transmission in our county since July, so these circumstances are very regarding. It’s clear that the Protected Travels program shouldn’t be adequately defending Kaua‘i from an alarming rise in circumstances.”
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If accepted, Rule 23 would take impact on December 1, 2020, at which level all incoming vacationers, together with residents and guests from the mainland and neighboring counties can be topic to a 14-day obligatory quarantine, no matter testing.
Kauai applied a tier system that enables or disallows sure actions based mostly on the COVID circumstances and p.c positivity charges. The island is at present within the least restrictive tier, Tier 4. Within the County of Kauai announcement, it states,
Mayor Kawakami added {that a} short-term opt-out of the Protected Travels program would permit the island to stay in Tier 4 – the least restrictive tier – for so long as attainable.
“Opting out of the Protected Travels program can be unbiased of our tier system, which implies we may keep in Tier Four for an extended time period,” stated Mayor Kawakami. “It makes no logical sense for us to maneuver tiers whereas nonetheless permitting extra vacationers. We shouldn’t penalize our native individuals by proscribing actions, resembling youth sports activities, when that’s not the present supply of an infection.”
From that assertion, it seems that youth sports activities is among the key causes to choose out of the pre-travel testing program and due to this fact requiring vacationers to quarantine.
You’ll be able to learn the complete assertion here.
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CVS tells Hawaii vacationers to hunt different testing choices
One of many authentic trusted testing partners, CVS, is now telling Hawaii vacationers to hunt different testing choices. Apparently, their testing demand is simply too excessive for them to have the ability to flip round assessments in a well timed method — particularly with the newly applied rule that vacationers should have their end result earlier than departure of their closing flight to Hawaii. Right here’s a partial screenshot from their website.
Vault tells Hawaii vacationers to search for various testing options if touring on a Tuesday or Wednesday
One other trusted testing partner, Vault, is telling Hawaii vacationers to search out various testing choices if they’re touring on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the rest of 2020. The issue seems to be as a result of elevated UPS vacation site visitors. Right here’s a partial screenshot from their website.
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COVID-19 testing in SFO & OAK airports are bought out
Passengers out of San Francisco and Oakland who plan to get assessments on the airport want to hunt one other testing choices. Testing websites at each airports are bought out by way of early December per SFGate.com.
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For extra details about the method of touring to Hawaii, go to hawaiicovid19.com/travel.
