2020-11-05 COVID-19 Emergency Amendment #3 to Rule No. 12

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Harry Kim tbtavor Rov Takemoto Managing Director Barbara J. Kossow Depury Managing Director County of Hawaii Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 . (808) 961-8211 C Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Are Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C . Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 (808) 323-4444 . Fax (808) 323-4440 Amendment #3 to Mayor's COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 12 Governor David Y. Ige issued the Thirteenth Proclamation Related to the COVID-19 Emergency establishing a negative test exception to the mandatory self -quarantine requirement for persons entering the State of Hawaii effective October 15, 2020. Governor David Y. Ige issued the Fourteenth Proclamation Related to the COVID-19 Emergency (14th Proclamation) authorizing the counties to establish a two -test system for transpacific travelers entering the respective county. Because health experts believe that a single pre -travel test may not adequately identify all positive COVID-19 travelers, a two -test system, was implemented by Hawaii County via Amendment to Mayor's COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 12 effective October 15, 2020. The County has conducted more than 12,000 arrival tests for transpacific travelers at airports on Hawaii Island since October 15, 2020. The results of these arrival tests confirm that the single pre-test system required by the State is not 100% effective at identifying all travelers that are positive for COVID-19. On November 4, 2020, the state of the pandemic finds that the U.S. surpassed 100,000 new cases in a single day for the first time, 17 states reported record highs in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the 7 -day moving average of new cases in the U.S and globally, continue to trend upwards, and numerous countries move towards increasing restrictions. Despite the effectiveness of its two -test system, the County finds that the logistic, financial and resource commitments necessary to continue this program in its current form are unsustainable. In deference to the health and wellbeing of our kama'aina and malihini alike, the County endeavors to establish a modified testing system integrated with its established two -test system centered on transpacific travel. In an effort to maximize effectiveness of its surveillance and efficiency of its testing operations and resources, the testing system will select, at random, up to 25 percent of transpacific travelers availing themselves to the State's negative test exception to the mandatory self -quarantine requirement and administer a COVID- 19 rapid antigen test prior to exiting the airport. The County finds this system necessary to collect data to compare against COVID-19 conditions statewide, nationally, internationally and