At a press convention at the moment, 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 necessary 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 means of the month of August. The quarantine will stay in place.
Governor Ige famous three major elements 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, report variety of new circumstances of Hawaii COVID-19 have been reported over the previous weekend. Three new COVID deaths in Hawaii have been confirmed this Monday morning. That’s an alarming spike following a transparent drop and plateau of circumstances of the virus in Hawaii.
Second, the choice was made following grizzly, report spikes in US Mainland cities of reported circumstances, 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 gear was an element within the determination to delay the pre-testing coverage. Whereas in-state testing can return outcomes, typically, inside 48 hours, checks 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 at the moment’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 state of affairs will change,” Ige stated.
What guests ought to take method from at the moment’s press convention is that the necessary 14-day quarantine stays in impact by means of 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 wish to stay, as Well being Director Bruce Anderson put it, “the healthiest place within the nation”.
Wish to come to Hawaii? Put on a masks at dwelling. The folks of Hawaii and their elected and appointed officers should not prepared to sacrifice public well being and security to accommodate guests unconvinced or unconcerned in regards to the additional affect of COVID-19 in Hawaii. It’s already calamitous.
Hawaii Aloha Journey proprietor Bruce Fisher says of at the moment’s announcement, “We’re genuinely dissatisfied.” He’ll now have to tell dozens of shoppers that their holidays plans, some made many months prematurely of onset of the pandemic, must be modified or cancelled altogether. Thankfully, journey insurance coverage and rebookings can be found.
Bruce, like everybody in Hawaii’s journey business, is annoyed on the shifting goalposts of reopening Hawaii journey. Leaders within the sector have been informed {that a} July opening was doable, then an August opening, and now, possibly, September. Though he’s dissatisfied by the extension of the quarantine requirement, Bruce says, “It was anticipated.”
We right here at Hawaii Aloha Journey attempt 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 most recent insights on the way forward for Hawaii holidays.
Posted by: Jamie Winpenny
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