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Hawaii Governor David Ige last week tightened the state’s COVID-19 pre-travel plans, requiring all travelers to take a confirmed negative coronavirus test before arriving in the island nation.
The previous policy allowed travelers who had not been tested to quarantine themselves until their test results returned. Under the new policy, travelers must show proof of a negative coronavirus test. Otherwise, they will be quarantined for two weeks, even if the test results are negative.
The policy change has upset local politicians and business owners, including Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat. Some critics cite the island’s low visitor infection rate and the recovery of its economy as reason enough to stick with the original policy.
“It doesn’t serve the public very well,” Saiki said at a bi-monthly meeting last Monday of the Hawaii House Special Committee on Economic and Financial Preparedness for COVID-19.
Mufi Hannemann, the former Honolulu mayor who now heads the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, said the tourism industry group had serious concerns. Hannemann alleged that the Ige administration did not consult any of them in their decision making.
Following criticism, Ige released a statement on Monday saying the policy change was aimed at protecting island residents and preparing for an upcoming holiday season that is expected to see more travelers.
“While only a handful of visitors test positive each day after arriving, that was enough to force us to change our policy, especially as more and more people are heading to Hawaii to celebrate the holidays,” Ige said in the statement. “We need to take all necessary precautions to keep our community safe and to ensure that our hospitals have the capacity to care for those who need treatment.”
About 270,000 people had traveled under the original policy and only 44 arrived with a pending test which later turned out positive.
“It’s not a large number, but it’s enough to change the policy,” Ige said last week.
Just 44 out of 270,000 is “a very, very, very small percentage,” said Ray Vara, general manager of island hospital giant Hawaii Pacific Health. Vara also said he didn’t want to see the island’s economy deteriorate.
“Things are bad enough right now,” said Peter Ho, President, President and CEO of Bank of Hawaii, adding that this new policy shift was not helping the island’s recent economic recovery. .
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