LIHU‘E — Hawai‘i will start allowing vaccinated individuals to bypass pre-travel testing and quarantines for inter-island travel starting May 11.
The state’s Safe Travels platform went online Friday, allowing travelers to upload their travel information and vaccination data.
Governor David Ige announced the change in a Friday proclamation that only addressed an inter-county travel vaccine exemption.
Four new cases of COVID-19 were announced on Kaua‘i Friday by the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office.
Three of Friday’s cases are adult residents whose source of infection is community-acquired. The fourth case is an adult visitor whose source of infection is related to international travel and is related to a known case.
All active cases are in isolation and close contacts are being identified, offered testing and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
Friday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 59, with 343 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 305 confirmed locally, two probable, and 36 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on island.
Free testing at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
Testing is also available through primary-care physician, hospitals and urgent-care clinic. Contact providers directly for more information.
Anyone with flu-like symptoms or feeling sick should isolate immediately, stay away from household members and not go out — including to work or school — unless you are seeking testing or getting health care.
Those who have been vaccinated should still be tested if they believe they may have been exposed or if they feel sick.
Vaccination is free and widely available on the island, including on weekends and evenings. For details, visit kauai.gov/vaccine. Those who plan to travel can protect themselves and their families by being fully vaccinated before traveling.
For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19. For more information on the state’s COVID-19 cases or the state’s Safe Travels program, visit hawaiicovid19.com.
