Lt. Gov. Green details trans-Pacific travel plan
Interisland quarantine update status uncertain
Lt. Gov. Josh Green rolled out key details on the trans-Pacific pretravel testing program Thursday to reassure people that the effort to reopen Hawaii to visitors is launching in two weeks as announced.
Green outlined the state’s testing partners, timelines to take a pretest and predictions on possible positive cases that could get through the program.
Meanwhile, counties have been quiet on updates to the interisland quarantine, which still requires 14days of self-quarantine for Neighbor Island arrivals. Pushed by Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino and other mayors, the interisland quarantine was reinstated in August for arrivals to all counties, except Honolulu, as a way to curb COVID19 spread.
Green on Thursday said county and state leaders are continuing to discuss the issue. He deferred to the mayors, who “are closer to their constituents,” to determine the outcome for interisland quarantine.
“A lot of people are saying, ‘Hey, people can fly in and take a test and not have to quarantine. Why can I not visit my loved ones on Maui or Kona or where ever on a Neighbor Island?’ ” Green said. “I think it’s likely they will come to an agreement on some form of a program . . . but it’s for (mayors) to answer.”
During a county news conference Wednesday, Victorino echoed that he wants testing to be done before traveling to Maui County, even if it’s interisland travel. He is also advocating for “sandwich” testing, or a second test conducted 72 hours after arrival.
If counties do not have a plan before the start of the trans-Pacific pretravel testing program, travelers to Neighbor Islands will still have to follow 14-day quarantine rules, Green said.
The trans-Pacific pre-travel testing program will launch Oct. 15, Green said. The program allows U.S. Mainland travelers to Hawaii to bypass quarantine with proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.
Admitting it will not be perfect, Green said the pre-travel testing program will add a layer of protection; travelers are currently coming without a test and skipping out on quarantine.
“Let me be very clear, I know it will not be perfect,” he said. “Nothing will be perfect — we are in a global pandemic. But things are very difficult on working families. This adds an extra layer of safety.”
“Keep in mind nobody is getting a test before traveling, they are going into quarantine and breaking the rules and skipping out on quarantine,” he said, adding that $5,000 fines will be upheld against public health rule violators.
Green said there will be about 12 partners for tests with whom the state will be working. He highlighted Kaiser Permanente, Walgreens and CVS, saying Kaiser will pay for
the test if it’s for travel and CVS has 2,000 locations across the country.
Some partners will allow testing via mail. However, telehealth will be used where a Zoom or Skype visit will allow health care workers to “observe” the test being taken.
Also, airline partners, such as Hawaiian, United, Alaska and American, have announced testing options in or near major airports, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. Green added that testing will not be the cheapest but will be convenient. Oakland International Airport in California is offering free tests to Hawaii-bound flyers.
He said the state is prioritizing testing with a “trusted partner” to ensure efficiency and efficacy.
“They have the right test, they will be able to give it to us quickly, they are working with us in a way where we know we don’t have any kind of flaws, the system should be more efficient, checking people in, and they will do the right test,” Green said.
Green said there will be a similar program for international travelers that also requires a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test for NAAT. He did not elaborate on details.
The lieutenant governor, a medical doctor, responded to questions about the safety of the testing, saying that he predicts that less than one in 1,000 people will be positive for COVID-19 despite taking a test. If the state anticipates 8,000 travelers to Hawaii per day, then it would mean eight individuals would possibly have COVID-19.
“At our worst, we could handle 300 positives a day,” he said. “We have been able to manage 100 a day.”
Green said that with beefed up contact tracing, additional testing capacity that will move from 4,000 tests per day to eventually 13,000 per day and public health safety measures, risks of spread can be mitigated.
He added that he suspects any uptick in cases will come from residents going back to work and possibly letting their guards down during lunch breaks or in workplaces.
“We could see a small bump. Not likely from travelers, but because we are together again, we are putting food on the table again,” he said. “We have to make sure we’re wearing our masks and distancing.”
Green said it’s not realistic for trans-Pacific travelers to do sandwich testing, or testing again after three or four days, because of the state’s current daily testing capacity of only 4,000. Sandwich testing would require twice as many tests. Also, he said the average length of stay is 7.5 days, and asking people to quarantine for about half of their stay until they take a second test will deter travelers.
“No one would go to the markets where they ask for a second test and three days of quarantine,” he said.
Instead, Green said a surveillance testing program where the state seeks to retest 10 percent of travelers could help assess whether the plan is working.
Asked how air travelers who test negative can be safe with other passengers who did not test, Green said distancing and mask wearing will greatly reduce risk. Also, all travelers will have temperature checks and health screening procedures, which will cut the possibility of exposure.
Green said the state will continue to improve the program as new testing methods become available. People should visit www.hawaiicovid19.com for updated information, he said.
“We’re going to watch very carefully and make adjustments,” he said.
Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.