With the October 15th launch of the brand new pre-travel testing program simply hours away from implementation, evidently there’s new information popping out of Hawaii each hour. In case your head is spinning, making an attempt to maintain up with the final minute adjustments and restrictions, welcome to the membership! Our head is spinning, too! Simply making an attempt to make heads or tails out of the quite a few proclamations, emergency guidelines, press releases and press conferences is completely exhausting. I really feel just like the man within the purple shirt on this Far Aspect cartoon.
So, let’s attempt to break down the information into some chunk dimension items which are as simple as we will presumably make them to know and digest.
Overview of Governor Ige’s October 13, 2020 Press Convention
As soon as once more, the governor and lieutenant governor and different state leaders expressed confidence within the October 15th begin of the pre-travel testing program. The governor said, “We’re trying ahead to launching pre-travel testing on Thursday, as a result of it’s a mirrored image of the progress we’ve made in managing the pandemic to the purpose the place we will start taking larger steps to reviving our financial system and strengthening our group.”
You’ll be able to watch the entire press conference here. The governor and lieutenant governor offered a quick overview the fundamentals of the pre-travel testing program. We’re summarizing their overview plus including just a few items of knowledge that we imagine is useful to incorporate:
- Starting October 15, vacationers who don’t need to be topic to the state’s 14-day necessary vacationers quarantine should take an authorized COVID-19 check inside 72 hours previous to departure from the ultimate leg of journey. (Youngsters below the age of 5 is not going to be required to take a check.) This pre-travel testing possibility is just open to vacationers from the U.S. in the beginning.
- The check have to be performed by means of one of many 17 trusted testing companions (listed here).
- Unfavorable check outcomes could also be uploaded on the Safe Travels Digital Platform, and all vacationers should additionally full the state’s necessary journey and well being type on this digital platform. (Vacationers are inspired to do that step 24 hours previous to arrival in Hawaii. Airport screeners will overview data upon arrival and conduct temperature screenings.)
- If a traveler’s COVID-19 check comes again damaging, they are going to be exempt from quarantine. If the outcomes haven’t are available in but, the traveler might be required to quarantine at their place of lodging till outcomes come again. If the end result comes again optimistic for COVID-19, the traveler and shut contacts might be mandated to isolation for 14 days.
- If a traveler doesn’t pre-test, they are going to be required to quarantine for 14-days. There aren’t any choices to check out of state quarantine after arrival.
- For extra data of the pre-travel testing program and necessities, see HawaiiCOVID19.com/travel.
- For extra data on the Protected Travels Digital Platform, see this link.
The governor introduced 4 newly authorized testing companions, which embrace American Airways, Alaska Airways, Port of Oakland and Bartell Medicine. There are actually 17 testing companions in whole. As soon as once more, you possibly can see the whole listing of authorized testing companions listed here.
On the time of publishing, all islands are taking part in Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program for guests to the state. Within the final week or so, there had beforehand been numerous discussions, rumors and last-minute hesitations for the implementation of the pre-travel testing program. All islands are opting in. There are some case degree caveats that we’ll talked about within the tier part under.
Publish-arrival, second testing necessities range by county
A second check could also be both voluntary or required per particular person county necessities. Right here’s the listing of second check necessities by island:
Kauai – requesting vacationers take a second check 72 hours after arrival. It’s voluntary and might be paid by the county. A quarantine is just not required between arrival and the second check. Learn this update for at the moment obtainable data concerning the second check. We might anticipate the county will replace their webpage with additional particulars.
Maui County – requesting vacationers to take a second check between 48 and 72 hours after arrival. It’s voluntary and might be paid by the county. A quarantine is just not required between arrival and the second check. Observe that the county of Maui consists of the islands of Lanai, Molokai and, in fact, Maui.
Hawaii (Large Island) County – a second check might be carried out upon arrival. The price of the check might be paid by the county. For extra insights on this testing, see this article.
Moreover, a statewide surveillance testing program might be carried out. Roughly 10% of incoming vacationers might be examined 4 days after arrival. The price of surveillance testing might be paid by the state. This surveillance testing will happen for 60 days.
Choice to pre-test to be exempt from 14-day quarantine for inter-island journey to Kauai and Maui
The governor authorized Kauai’s and Maui’s requests to permit quarantine exemptions for inter-island journey if inter-island vacationers receive a legitimate 72-hour pre-test with a damaging end result. For extra particulars on that information, see this link to Maui News and this hyperlink to this County of Kauai Facebook update. With no legitimate, damaging pre-test, inter-island vacationers could also be topic to a compulsory 14-day quarantine.
On the time of publishing, a quarantine is not required for inter-island journey to Oahu from every other Hawaiian Island.
On the time of publishing, a 14-quarantine is required for all inter-island journey to the island of Hawaii, also called the Large Island. See this link for extra data.
Observe that in case you are flying from a U.S. state to Hawaii with a legitimate, damaging pre-test and you’re merely making a flight connection with out exiting the connecting airport, that doesn’t set off an inter-island quarantine. Per HawaiiCOVID19.com/journey, they put it this manner, “In case you have only a layover in Honolulu then the damaging check result’s good by means of to your remaining vacation spot. In case your break in Honolulu is greater than a layover, then you’re captured by the interisland quarantine.”
Some islands could decide out of the state’s pre-travel testing program if case counts improve
Kauai has acquired approval from the governor to implement a tier system that permits or disallows quarantine exemption with a pre-travel testing program based mostly on their optimistic COVID-19 case counts. You’ll be able to learn that new rule here. To observe Kauai’s case counts, verify their COVID-19 webpage.
Maui has proposed a similar tier system. An outline of this technique was introduced within the county’s daily update on Monday. It’s not clear whether or not the governor has authorized Maui’s proposed system or not. Examine the webpage for Maui county for any updates.
These are all of the recognized, opt-out, tier programs right now.
Guidelines range by island/county
The counties of Hawaii are altering guidelines and rules ceaselessly in response to COVID-19. Maintaining with the adjustments could be troublesome and complicated. (See this Star-Advertiser article, Island-by island COVID-19 requirements and rules could confuse some visitors.) The onus is placed on the vacationers to seek out, perceive and comply with the principles. It’s not simple to seek out both as most of their guidelines are tucked away in a number of proclamation and emergency rule paperwork. Listed below are the county web sites to verify for his or her guidelines:
Hawaii County (Large Island) hawaiicounty.gov
Maui County consists of the islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai. The web site for Maui County is mauicounty.gov.
Metropolis and County of Honolulu consists of your entire island of Oahu. The web site for the Metropolis and County of Honolulu is honolulu.gov.
Kauai County – kauai.gov
Useful Hawaii Journey Data Sources
We’re listing these following official sources to help you with any questions you could have. Please use these sources when you have any questions in regards to the present Hawaii guidelines and restrictions:
