GOVERNOR IGE ANNOUNCES PRE-TRAVEL TESTING PROGRAM FOR HAWAII ARRIVALS DELAYED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1

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News Release from Office of the Governor, Jul 13, 2020

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige today announced he will delay the launch of the pre-travel testing program for incoming travelers to Hawai‘i. The program is now scheduled to begin on Sept. 1. This means all travelers entering the State of Hawai‘i will be subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine until Sept. 1, when the pre-travel testing program is scheduled to begin.

The governor made this decision in collaboration with Hawai‘i’s four county mayors. Several factors contributed to the decision to delay the pre-travel testing program. They include:

• The continental U.S. (mainland) is seeing large, uncontrolled outbreaks in some of Hawai‘i’s main visitor markets, including California. Many of these communities are increasing restrictions and rolling back reopening plans.
• Hawai‘i is seeing an increase in cases.
• The outbreaks on the mainland are affecting Hawai‘i’s testing supply, including an interruption in our supply chain from the mainland.
• Hawai‘i anticipates an uptick in cases when schools re-open in August.

“This was an extremely difficult decision to make. This delay will further hurt our economy, but as I’ve always said – we will make decisions based on the best available science and facts prioritizing the health and safety of Hawai‘i residents. Our county mayors and I agree, this delay is essential to protect our community,” said Gov. Ige.

Once it is launched, the pre-travel testing program will be an important part of the state’s multi-layered screening process to protect residents and visitors. Some new details include:

• Travelers will be exempt from the 14-day quarantine if they test negative after taking a COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours in advance of travel.
• The test must be a nucleic acid amplification test or NAAT test conducted at a CLIA-certified laboratory.
• If test results are not available by the time of arrival in Hawaiʻi, the traveler will remain in quarantine until their test results are received. If the test results are negative and can be verified, the traveler will then be exempt from the quarantine.
• All travelers are subject to the pre-test requirement, including children of all ages.
• Travelers are responsible for the cost of the test.
• No commercial testing will be provided at Hawaiʻi airports.

Gov. Ige will issue a 10th supplementary emergency proclamation in the next few days.

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