HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-06 Mayor's Amendment to Rule 12 Scales Back Arrival Tests for Mainland Travelers to Hawaii Island -- press release
Roy Takemoto
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440
November 6, 2020
NEWS RELEASE
Hawai‘i County Scales Back on Post-Arrival Testing
Under an amendment to Mayor Harry Kim’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 12, a scaled-back
number of travelers arriving on Hawai‘i Island from out of state who have chosen to participate
in the State’s pre-test program to bypass the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine period will be
required to take a County-administered COVID-19 test upon arrival.
Under Amendment No. 3 to the Mayor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 12, up to twenty-five
percent (25%) of arriving passengers participating in the State pre-test program will be required
to undergo a second COVID-19 test on arrival on Hawai‘i Island.
Mayor Kim explained that the financial and logistical costs of testing, and the lack of adequate
space made testing all passengers in the State pre-test program unsustainable.
“We’re testing 25% of passengers instead, and we believe we’ll still get a picture of how much
spread of COVID-19 there is among incoming passengers,” the Mayor said. “The importance of
this testing is unchanged. The goal is to secure funding and go back to full testing of everyone
under the State pre-test program.”
The cost of the rapid COVID-19 arrival test is borne by Hawai‘i County via Federal CARES Act
funding.
The 14-day self-quarantine period imposed by the State on inter-island travel from O‘ahu and
between the Neighbor Islands remains in place.
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.