Governor Ige and his workforce introduced some main new adjustments/additions to Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program. Earlier than we get into the main points of these information objects, we’d prefer to say mahalo to Angie Palmer for supplying as we speak’s beautiful Aloha Friday Photograph.
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Final night time, November 19th, the governor held a prolonged press convention asserting a few vital adjustments/additions to the pre-travel testing program:
- Vacationers should have take a look at outcomes previous to the departure of the ultimate leg of their flight itinerary in an effort to keep away from quarantine.
- Hawaii will welcome Canadian guests once more beginning mid-December with pre-travel testing.
You’ll be able to watch your complete press convention here. We’ve summarized every of these bulletins beneath.
Beginning November 24th, vacationers eager to bypass quarantine should have their pre-travel COVID-19 take a look at outcomes earlier than departure to Hawaii.
Planning a visit to Hawaii will turn out to be only a bit extra dangerous with the brand new coverage change that vacationers should have acquired their take a look at outcomes previous to the departure of their remaining leg of journey. In any other case, the traveler should quarantine for 14-days or the period of their keep, which ever timeframe is shorter. This new requirement goes into impact November 24th.
Right here’s an excerpt about this coverage revision from the governor’s information launch:
“Gov. David Ige introduced as we speak that beginning on Nov. 24, vacationers wishing to bypass the 14-day obligatory quarantine should have their COVID-19 take a look at outcomes – from a trusted testing accomplice – previous to departure for the State of Hawaiʻi.
If take a look at outcomes aren’t accessible earlier than boarding the ultimate leg of the journey, the traveler should quarantine for 14 days or the size of the keep, whichever is shorter.
“We’re taking this added security precaution now in response to the dramatically growing variety of COVID-19 instances within the continental United States and world wide. The well being of our residents and guests is our major concern, particularly as extra individuals journey to Hawaiʻi to have a good time the vacations,” stated Gov. Ige.
The brand new coverage applies to home transpacific flights and worldwide flights departing from places wherein the State of Hawaiʻi pre-testing applications are in place.”
The governor acknowledged that thus far, 94% of vacationers who’ve taken half within the pre-travel testing program have acquired their take a look at outcomes previous to departure. So if that fee continues, that might imply that 6% of vacationers wouldn’t have their assessments ends in time (previous to departure of ultimate leg of journey) and can be topic to quarantine in the event that they select to fly to Hawaii.
Because the begin of the brand new Secure Travels program on October 15th, 273,020 vacationers have come to Hawaii via the Secure Travels utility. The vast majority of these vacationers are guests — some 68.5%. Of the overall vacationers to Hawaii, 243,140 vacationers have certified to be exempt from quarantine, primarily via the pre-travel testing program. No less than 44 vacationers acquired optimistic take a look at outcomes after arrival. Although 44 of the overall vacationers is a comparatively small quantity, Hawaii has chosen so as to add this additional layer of safety to require a destructive end result earlier than departure in an effort to be exempt from quarantine.
For extra details about the Secure Travels and pre-travel testing applications, see HawaiiCOVID19.com.
Canadian pre-travel testing program to start out mid-December
The governor introduced that vacationers flying from Canada could also be exempt from quarantine if they provide a destructive COVID-19 take a look at taken inside 72 hours of departure via labs recognized by WestJet and Air Canada.
Right here’s an excerpt from the governors press launch.
“Gov. Ige additionally introduced that starting in mid-December, vacationers flying from Canada to Hawaiʻi could bypass the state’s obligatory 14-day quarantine in the event that they take a COVID-19 take a look at from labs recognized by Air Canada and WestJet. The take a look at have to be taken inside 72 hours of journey to the State of Hawai‘i, and a destructive take a look at end result have to be acquired previous to departure. Vacationers with out proof of a destructive take a look at end result previous to boarding their flight to Hawai‘i will likely be required to self-quarantine for 14-days or the size of keep, whichever is shorter.
“Many Canadians love to go to Hawaiʻi in the course of the winter months to flee the chilly climate, so the timing for this works properly. Hawaiʻi has probably the most rigorous pre-travel testing program in the US, and we’re grateful to Air Canada and WestJet for making it accessible to their passengers,” stated Gov. David Ige.
Air Canada and WestJet will likely be figuring out testing entities in Canada, with the Hawaiʻi State Division of Well being’s approval, for functions of the pre-testing program. Canadian residents ought to look to those Canadian-based carriers for the testing choices of their nation.”
Air Canada plans to start out service to Hawaii starting December 17 per their press release. We searched, however couldn’t discover any data on the testing companions and procedures with Air Canada. Test immediately with Air Canada for extra data.
WestJet will start service to Hawaii beginning December 18th. The airline has a helpful webpage with particulars on their testing program for journey to Hawaii.
The governor went on so as to add that Canadian nationals touring overseas are nonetheless topic to a 14-day quarantine upon their return to Canada. Journey restrictions on U.S. journey to Canada stay in place. The 2 airline representatives famous that there’s a pilot program operating in Calgary (YYC) that permits arriving, worldwide passengers to check and have diminished quarantines with destructive outcomes.
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As an fascinating other than the press convention, a query posed by a media member, and I’m paraphrasing right here, principally requested who’s extra answerable for the unfold of COVID-19 in Hawaii — guests or residents. The governor acknowledged that the “overwhelming majority” of instances are the results of residents. In case you’d prefer to view that a part of the press convention, quick ahead to concerning the 59-minute mark of this video. Sadly, guests have taken a really undeserved dangerous rap.
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On a remaining notice, glad Aloha Friday!
