Hawaii Delays Start Of Pre-Testing Program

Hawai‘i governor David Ige has issued a new statewide order delaying the start of the pre travel testing program to October 1st due to the spike in cases.

Beginning October 1, individuals looking to avoid the 14-day quarantine are required to get a valid COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to their trip and provide proof of a negative result as part of Hawai’i’s Pre-Travel Testing Program. If visitors fail to meet the requirements of the Pre-Travel Testing Program, they will be placed in a mandatory 14- day quarantine until a negative test is received.

The FDA-approved Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) must be from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab and will need to be done prior to arrival. No testing will be done upon arrival at the airport.

Governor Ige has also said that the state will monitor the conditions in Hawai‘i as well as key markets on the mainland USA to determine the appropriate start date for the pre-travel testing program. The current October 1st date remains fluid and subject to change. Should the date change an update will be issued as soon as possible.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Hawaii Tourism Canada are working closely to see how the Hawai‘i Department of Health can accept tests taken by Canadian provincial health authorities as valid for this program. There are a select few private CLIA certified laboratories in Canada where travellers can get an approved test.

Go to https://hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/ for more.