The County of Kaua´i today officially rejoined the state’s safe travels program, allowing trans-Pacific travelers to bypass 10-day quarantine requirements with proof of a negative COVID-19 test result received within 72 hours of travel.
Kaua´i had initially enlisted with all other Hawai´i counties as part of the program when it launched in October. However, Mayor Derek Kawakami chose to opt out of Safe Travels in December, citing too great of a health risk.
Now, as the administration of vaccine shots nears 700,000 statewide and the number of people vaccinated from the mainland continues growing every day, Kawakami said it is again appropriate to allow travelers to return to the Garden Isle absent a quarantine period, should they follow all the required steps.
“We are now in a much better place today to have travelers coming in, and I think as more vaccines get out, generally speaking, the entire world will be in a better place,” Kawakami said in a report published by Hawai´i News Now. “Our bars, restaurants for the most part have been able to operate, youth sports have been able to get back online, so this is going to be a much-needed injection of economic stimulus from our visitor industry.”
This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Big Island Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments
