HONOLULU: Hawaii Gov David Ige stated Friday that the state will abandon its quarantine and COVID-19 testing necessities for travelers as soon as 70 % of the state’s population has been vaccinated against the covid-19.Â
Hawaii will also lift its requirement that individuals wear masks indoors once that level has been reached, he stated.
The state Department of Health website stated 59 percent of Hawaii’s population has had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 52 percent finished their dosing regimen.
The state uses its figures, and not those provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to calculate thresholds for lifting restrictions.
Health Department Director Dr. Libby Char stated that is because Hawaii’s numbers are more accurate. She stated it appears the CDC has been counting some of Hawaii’s doses twice.
Right now, travelers arriving from out of state must spend 10 days in quarantine or, to bypass that quarantine, they must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken before departure for the islands.
Once 60 % of Hawaii’s population are vaccinated, Ige stated that the state will allow travelers to bypass a quarantine requirement as long as they can prove they were vaccinated within the US.
Restrictions on travel between the islands will open up before that.
Ige stated that as of Jun 15, individuals will be able to fly interisland without taking a COVID-19 test or showing proof of vaccination. Also on that date, those who have been vaccinated in Hawaii may bypass quarantine when returning from a trip out of state.
To encourage more individuals to get vaccinated, the state announced it launched a website HIGotVaccinated.com the place vaccinated individuals can enter to win prizes and learn about discounts at local retailers and restaurants.
Among the deals: A US$3 bag of Zippy’s chili for those who show their vaccination card. Among the prizes are 100,000 frequent flyer miles from Hawaiian Airlines.
So many individuals went to the website after the state announced its existence that the site crashed. Health Department spokesman Brooks Baehr stated 500 individuals signed up for prizes within the first hour.
