Governor David Ige held a press conference on Saturday, March 21, at 3 p.m. to strengthen the protections for the Hawaiian Islands and its people by imposing a travel quarantine. The new restrictions go into effect Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
Governor Ige is imposing a mandatory 14-day travel quarantine for all those coming into Hawaii, whether visitors or returning residents. This will apply to all those coming to the state, no matter the mode of transportation. The quarantine goes into effect on Thursday in order to let all incoming travelers have some notice of what they will be facing.
Gen. Kenneth Hara said the quarantine is being implemented because most of the positive cases of COVID-19–48 as of this writing–except two, are travel-related. As visitors arrive on the island, personnel at the checkpoint will confirm the identify of the visitors and review the Agricultural Form and where the visitors are staying. Each arriving person will get a copy of the quarantine order.
Hawaii residents are to quarantine at their homes. Visitors are to quarantine at their rented location or hotel. The quarantine will last for 14 days or the duration of the trip if shorter. Those in quarantine are responsible for bearing the cost of their own quarantine. Those in quarantine may only leave for medical emergencies. For medical care, contact a healthcare provider. For urgent medical call, they may call 9-1-1. Visitors who are here already are not subject to quarantine.
Failure to follow this order is a misdemeanor, punishable by a $5,000 fine or imprisonment. The local county governments will be responsible for enforcement. However, Gen. Hara said so far, nobody has violated the request of the Governor to self-quarantine after travel or after testing positive for COVID-19.
Gen. Hara said after the Governor previously asked visitors to delay their trips, incoming traffic had already dropped 67%.
The quarantine does not apply to pilots or flight crews on scheduled flights. Any flight personnel who leave the airport will have a temperature and health check. Gen. Hara said it would disrupt the airline industry too much to require flight crews to quarantine for 14 days since flight crews usually stay just 1 or 2 days. The Director of Hawaii Emergency Management (Gen. Hara) will have authority to grant exceptions to the quarantine, for example, for traveling nurses and doctors or other essential personnel.
Gen. Hara said the military has already taken steps to quarantine incoming military personnel.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell, City and County of Honolulu, joined Gov. Ige. Caldwell said the Mayors of all four counties met on Friday afternoon to discuss having a united plan. He said some of the details on each island might differ, but all actions will have the same goal–protecting the people in the state.
Peter Ingram, President and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, said after Wednesday, Mar. 25, the airline will adjust to bare-bones service. They will continue to transport essential personnel, cargo, and blood among the islands. Ingram said even now they have implemented more hygiene protocols on the planes. He also noted the airline is losing millions of dollars but so far has avoided furloughs.
Eric Gill, Treasurer of the union representing health care and hospitality workers, said there is great concern about benefits for those being laid off, and concern among health care workers that they be protected.
Gov. Ige acknowledged this order will dramatically reduce visitors to Hawaii, and he’s been in contact with all airlines, tour operators, etc. But, this is an unprecedented global pandemic, so the entire world is suffering from hits to the economy and personal income right now.
Gov. Ige’s communications director Cindy McMillan added that the majority of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 are local residents who have returned from travel or been exposed to those who have traveled.
Photo is a screenshot of Gov. Ige with Gen. Kenneth Hara at the press conference.
