HONOLULU — Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Thursday said he has authorized the state’s counties to develop agreements with hotels that would allow travelers from out of state to move around resort properties during their 14-day traveler quarantine.
HONOLULU — Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Thursday said he has authorized the state’s counties to develop agreements with hotels that would allow travelers from out of state to move around resort properties during their 14-day traveler quarantine.
Currently, travelers must stay in their hotel rooms or residence for two weeks after arriving in Hawaii to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said the plan would have visitors wear a tracking band that would alert security and police if they tried to exit resort grounds or remove the device.
The area travelers are allowed to roam may include beaches next to resort hotels. Residents would still be allowed on those beaches, but would be warned about the possible presence of newly arrived travelers.
Kawakami said he’s talking to resort operators who might be interested in setting up such a program.
Resorts would have to show that they have the systems in place to be able to keep people safe, he said. Kawakami didn’t have an estimate for when such a program might be allowed to begin.
The mayor said he’s been looking at alternatives to the status quo, adding travelers to Kauai continue to try to break quarantine rules, which strains the local police department.
“We are trying to mitigate risk,” Kawakami told reporters during a news conference with the governor.
Maui and Hawaii counties have also indicated they are exploring similar ideas for resorts.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
If newly quarantined individuals are allowed out of their rooms to areas where they might mingle with others who are nearing the end of their quarantine, this would defeat the purpose of the quarantine!
This only makes sense if the travelers have a negative Covid test prior to arrival. Who wants to join a pod/resort with groups of people who have not been tested? And what resorts want to expose their workers to people who haven’t been tested? The same is true of traveling to the islands. Being tested ahead of getting on the plane makes the most sense; gives people traveling some sense of security that their fellow travelers are not infected. No one seems to be thinking about what will appeal to the travelers. Mainlanders are not all reckless, contrary to what is depicted.
Until the state and the rest of the US provides Covid-19 tests available that provide results within a 24-48 hour window, I will not be visiting Kauai anytime soon. It also offends me that, at least on social media, we “tourists” keep getting lumped together as scumbag spreaders. Seems to me that Kauai has problems because some are not following public health protocol (Polihale) just like in CA and other parts of the US. I’ve been following the rules for almost 6 months and it really angers me that we are still at this stage because of those who choose to act selfishly and irresponsibly.
THE QUARANTINE IS A FACT FREE SCAM WITH NO LEGITIMATE PURPOSE ANYWAY.
I LIVE HERE IF I AM SCARED OF VISITORS I WILL STAY HOME.
ANYONE WHO IS SCARED OF VISITORS OR OF THE INMATES THEY JUST LET OUT OF PRISION WHILE KEEPING MY LOCAL FRIENDS BUSINESS CLOSED THEN YOU SHOULD STAY HOME TOO. THIS IS A SCAM CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT?
IT IS NOT A CHOICE BETWEEN GRANDMA DYING AND BEING OPEN !!!!! THAT IS A FALSE CHOICE !!
WE CAN BE OPEN SAFELY
I think Hawaii may be in for a BIG surprise when/if they open the islands to visitors and very few show up…even if they were free to move around the island.
Any regular visitor’s I’ve spoken with, are choosing not to travel anywhere…not even Hawaii! No unnecessary risk…let alone a vacation…with or without quarantine.
And these are visitors who don’t even read the newspaper and know how unwelcome they are. If they knew it…they would be looking for a new favorite vacation destination where they are welcomed and appreciated for bringing income to workers, businesses etc.
Aloha is a thing of the past it seems and sadly the hype of Covid 19has caused much unnecessary animosity instead of strength and community.
Disappointing indeed.
Everything could be open and people just use common sense of social distancing and when you can’t or are concerned, stay away or wear a mask. Pretty simple!