Whereas we await the main points of Hawaii’s pre-travel testing, many questions stay. Listed below are the most recent updates from Hawaii’s officers together with questions lots of our readers have.
Hawaii is experiencing report excessive COVID-19 circumstances
For 3 days in a row final week, Hawaii recorded new report excessive numbers of COVID-19 circumstances. The very best each day quantity to this point is 73 circumstances recorded on July 25th. By way of July 28th, Hawaii has recorded 1,757 circumstances with most of these (1,429 circumstances) being on Oahu.
“Journey bubble” between Japan and Hawaii a step nearer
Hawaii has been in discussions with Japan to open a “journey bubble” between the 2 locations. With each areas having comparatively low COVID-19 an infection charges, they really feel that it’s secure to open a journey hall between them with unfavourable pre-testing and with out quarantines. No timeline has been established. Learn extra about this matter here.
In a Facebook Live chat hosted by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Tuesday, July 28th, Lt. Gov. Inexperienced shared that Japanese vacationers are fascinating as a result of though they characterize someplace between 15-20% of vacationers to Hawaii, they produce 30% of all of the financial exercise. Moreover, he mentioned that the Japanese are a “respectful, considerate and meticulous tradition about these type of issues.”
Is Hawaii going to open to U.S. vacationers with pre-travel, unfavourable COVID-19 exams on September 1st?
The September 1st reopening of tourism with a unfavourable pre-travel COVID-19 take a look at is perhaps on shaky floor. As we mentioned last week, Hawaii (Huge) Island Mayor Kim doesn’t think that Hawaii will be ready to reopen to vacationers on September 1st. The mayor of Maui wants to re-enact the 14-day quarantine for inter-island travelers.
One enormous hurdle that’s not directly associated to reopening tourism is the beginning of the brand new faculty yr. At present, Hawaii is planning to open colleges on August 4th, however many are involved that’s too quickly.
With regard to reopening tourism with different states in September, in a Facebook Live chat hosted by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Tuesday, July 28th, Lt. Gov. Inexperienced mentioned,
“September 1st, from a sensible standpoint, we’re going to need to see what occurs first with the colleges and with these circumstances. I do know that’s what the governor and Normal Hara and everyone seems to be considering. We don’t wish to open up simply to, you recognize, the type of vacationers that we don’t need, that are irresponsible vacationers that come for the most affordable of flights that really feel invulnerable. That’s what we drew some consideration from once we talked in regards to the preliminary reopening and we’re anxious nonetheless in regards to the variety of circumstances in a variety of completely different components of the nation. So, I believe it’s going to be Japan first.” (If you wish to watch this part of the chat, it roughly begins about 22 minutes into the video.)
I’m unsure how Hawaii’s leaders might have presumably gathered the kind of information that they will conclude that after they began speaking about opening tourism, they drew the eye of “irresponsible vacationers who come for the most affordable of flights that really feel invulnerable.” How does one even conduct a survey to collect that kind of subjective information?
From our viewpoint, our readers have expressed that they’re respectful of the principles and have certainly complied with them. Hundreds have canceled or rescheduled their journeys. Some have rescheduled a number of occasions. Many have expressed their willingness to pre-test to make sure their very own and the neighborhood’s security. Many had deliberate special day journeys equivalent to weddings, honeymoons, milestone birthdays and anniversaries. These journeys aren’t low cost.
We at all times share with you the exact same recommendation that we’d give to our personal family and friends. Frankly, we’re involved in regards to the continuous vilification of holiday makers from the U.S.
When the pre-travel testing program opens, how can I get a take a look at?
When the fundamental idea and timeline of the pre-travel testing program was introduced, many individuals began to seek for locations the place they may get examined, with little luck. That’s as a result of this system has not began but. In the identical Fb Dwell chat we’ve beforehand referenced, Lt. Gov. Inexperienced shed some mild on this difficulty.
“CVS, Walgreens and Kaiser will enable anyone from any state to get examined in the event that they’re touring. There’ll be a journey provision of their protocols… We haven’t launched this system and other people say “Hey, I went to CVS they usually informed me ‘No, I haven’t heard about this but.’” Properly, that’s as a result of it hasn’t began, however that’s the contractual provision that we’ve got with our companions that they’d take a look at. Now, if it’s taking 5 days to get the take a look at end result again, it’s too lengthy, however you get the take a look at and when you get the take a look at end result and you might be unfavourable, you’d exit of quarantine.” (If you wish to watch this part of the chat, it roughly begins about 30 minutes into the video.)