LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i District Health Office opened the free post-travel test site for residents returning from the Mainland yesterday at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall where quick results could be obtained within 20 minutes from its on-site laboratory.
A similar test site for visitors opened at the American Medical Response office in Lihu‘e, several days into the state’s loosening the travel requirements for visitors to the Islands.
“One of the safety issues we are most passionate about is promoting a second, post-arrival test for incoming, out-of-state travelers,” Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami said during his daily video update Monday. “If you traveled here from the mainland and participated in the state’s Pre-Travel Testing Program, whether you are a resident or visitor, we urge you to take a second COVID-19 test no sooner than 72 hours following your arrival.”
These tests are available for travelers participating in the state’s Pre-Arrival Test Program.
“If you have not participated in the state’s Pre-Arrival Testing Program, you are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival,” the mayor said. “If you have not taken a pre-arrival test, there is no option for you to test out of quarantine once you arrive.”
For Kaua‘i residents returning from Mainland travel and participating in the state’s Pre-Travel Testing Program, the free COVID-19 test is available at the convention hall site from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Residents are encouraged to take the test no sooner than 72 hours following arrival at home.
“The free post-arrival test is offered to Kaua‘i residents who returned home from mainland travel,” Kawakami said. “This program is not yet available to inter-island travelers. But we are looking to expand our program.”
For visitors from the Mainland, the post-arrival testing is available at the AMR office located behind Pizza Hut in Lihu‘e from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday with walk-ins welcomed. Visitors will be charged for their test, but will receive gift cards and vouchers to local restaurants and businesses for their participation.
“While we are very passionate about providing a post-arrival testing program to offer another layor of protection to our community, we must acknowledge that testing does not prevent COVID-19,” Kawakami said. “The absolute best way you can protect yourselves, and those around you, is to wear your mask at all times when you are around people who don’t live with you. This includes your close family, friends, and co-workers, regardless if you are indoors or outdoors. Keep at least a six-foot distance from others whenever possible. Wash your hands regularly. Sanitize your environment, and please, avoid group gatherings.”
Since the pre-test program started on Oct. 15, some of the problems encountered include travelers taking the pre-test, but not from one of the state’s Trusted Partners, and not completing their Safe Travels Digital Form that is required before leaving the airport.
“As a reminder,” Kawakami said. “All travelers must complete the state’s Safe Travels Digital Form by going to www.travel.hawaii.gov. For those taking part in the state’s Pre-Travel Testing Program, tests must be taken at a Trusted Partner and results uploaded to your Digital Profile.”
For details, visit hawaiicovid19.com.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
All those temperature takers standing right up to and placing their temperature taking hand on the temperature taking device right in front of and a mere 3” away from the nose and mouth of a potentially Covid19 virus infected and contagious traveler.
If the traveler in front of you was contagious, the temperature taker personnel could transfer the Covid19 virus from the person in front of you, violating the 6’ separation down to 3 “ and about 5-10 seconds of separation of contagion.
All those geniuses yet big pukas (puka) in the system, kind of like the proverbial “fly in the ointment” of contamination.
By golly you would think all those geniuses behind these Covid19 of programs would have the temperature taking devices mounted on different tripods at different height so you just walk up to the appropriate height trípod mounted temperature taking device and someone more than 6’ away remotely “snaps off” your temperature reading while it is being shown on a remote screen.
Or as they did in Asia airports for other seasonal flu concerns, on departing the plane you just walked, no waiting in line, past a tripod mounted infrared heat showing camera, displaying your image, normal or feverish, on a remote screen. Besides the infrared camera is more than 6’ away from you.
Fo right now,”Don’t stick that overly contaminated thing in my face, I’m trying to avoid Covid19 viruses, not contract it by another government program ignorance ABUSE.
And what about the temperature taker person potentially risking their health and/or life to the Covid19 virus.
“A disease so deadly, you need to take a test to know if you got it for 98% of the people “.
All these flawed precautions. A negative test means you are a high risk candidate for virus infection and becoming a new contagious virus carrier.
Positive tested, 2 weeks later you have immunity, your Covid19 virus have all been deactivated and you are no longer contagios to others or susceptible to new virus coming into your body because your immunity, which is millions if not billions of reserve antibodies ready to deactivate any new Covid19 virus entering your body.
Suppose a infrared video camera with attached regular video, it could also provide a proof of travel record.
Seems there is room for improvement of Health and Safety procedures of Covid19 virus contagion prevention.
I’m Kauai-born, currently living on the east coast.
The question is not whether a tourist was sick when they left home. The problem is what they might have picked up while passing through the airport, and their exposure on the plane. Signs of illness usually develop in about 5 days after exposure but may take up to 14 days, and by that time a visitor who originally tested negative may have exposed many other visitors and residents.
For instance, a woman who DIED DURING AN INTERSTATE FLIGHT in July did not believe she had the virus and had not been tested, the authorities did not know she was ill with the virus until long after all the other passengers had dispersed. Apparently no contact tracing was performed.
Please. Gather all the facts and then go ahead and be overly cautious. Do not rely on single negative test results to keep the virus out of Kauai and Hawaii.
“Airport managers in Albuquerque did not learn until later that the woman had covid-19, so the case was handled as a typical medical diversion
“It’s unknown how many people were on the flight or whether they were notified that they might have been exposed to the virus. Spirit referred questions about any contact tracing to the CDC.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2020/10/21/texas-woman-died-of-covid-on-spirit-flight/#comments-wrapper