Beginning August 1, out-of-state travelers to Hawaii can avoid the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine by taking a valid COVID-19 test within three days prior to their arrival and showing a negative test result.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced the program June 24.
“The health of our community remains our primary focus. This multi-layered pre-travel testing and screening process allows travelers an alternative to the 14-day travel quarantine in a way that protects the health and safety of our kama‘āina [Hawaiian residents] and visitors,” said Gov. Ige. “Now is the time to work together to ensure that our local businesses can safely re-open to incoming travelers.”
Travelers must get a PCR (polymerise chain reaction) test from any testing location approved by the Hawaii State Department of Health. Travelers arriving from out of state without being tested will still be subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Officials stressed that testing will not be provided upon arrival at the airport.
Photo: Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii; Credit: Shutterstock
Temperature checks will continue at airports throughout the state, with anyone registering a temperature of higher than 100.4 degrees or experiencing other symptoms of coronavirus infection required to undergo a secondary screening at the airport.
According to a press release from the Office of the Governor, the Hawaii Health Department is still in the process of developing the program but anticipates requiring an FDA-approved PCR test from a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certified laboratory. Travelers must pay for the test themselves and are required to provide either printed or emailed pre-test certification as evidence of a negative test result.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends those interested in receiving a test for COVID-19 visit their state or local health department’s website.
Until further notice, out-of-state travelers arriving in Hawaii are subject to a 14-day quarantine that is subject to a number of strict rules. The state lifted the mandatory quarantine for travel between the islands June 16.
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