Hawaii Governor David Ige (D) announced Monday that the state will extend its mandatory 14-day quarantine until August, delaying plans to allow travelers to enter after testing negative for COVID-19.
The Hawaii governor said during his press conference that the pre-trip testing program would be postponed until September 1, citing “uncontrolled outbreaks and surges” in the continental United States.
“We have always said that we will make decisions based on the health and safety of our community as the highest priority,” Ige said during the briefing.
“As we speak at this time, outbreaks on the continent are not under control, and we do not believe that situation will change significantly by August 1 as we expected,” he added.
Today I announced the delay of the launch of the pre-trip testing program for incoming travelers starting on September 1. This means that all travelers entering the State of Hawaii will be subject to the mandatory 14-day quarantine until 9/1 .https: //t.co/dHAmKhGomJ
– Governor David Ige (@GovHawaii) July 14, 2020
The June pre-trip testing program is designed to allow visitors from other states to come to Hawaii and avoid the mandatory two-week quarantine if they supply a negative COVID-19 case within 72 hours of shipment. Tourists without this test would still be subject to the 14-day quarantine.
The program was intended to give a boost to companies that have been struggling during the pandemic and with quarantine driving tourists away.
“It was not an easy decision to make. It really was a choice between two difficult options, ”Ige said, citing the balance of the community’s economic and health needs.
College students who return to the state for school are exempt from quarantine, he said.
Hawaii’s cases have increased, though the number of cases remains a fraction of most state counts. Hawaii has counted 1,243 COVID-19 cases, with its largest single-day increase in cases on Saturday with 42 new cases.
The United States is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases, particularly in states like Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. The country recorded its largest increase in a single day again on Friday with 68,241 cases.
Hawaii is not the only state backing down on reopening plans, as California ordered all bars and various indoor activities to shut down across the state amid the surge.
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