COVID Vaccine, Testing Requirements Implemented for Judiciary Employees

Starting Monday, Sept. 27, Hawaiʻi State Judiciary employees must be vaccinated for COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing.

Employees who are not yet vaccinated; declined to disclose their vaccination status on the Judiciary’s vaccination questionnaire, or did not respond to the vaccination questionnaire by Oct. 4, will be required to take weekly COVID-19 tests and submit negative test results before entering the workplace, judiciary officials announced Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Currently, approximately 85% of the Judiciary’s 1,749 employees statewide are fully or partially vaccinated.

“We have been strongly encouraging vaccinations since February and are gratified to see that the vast majority of our employees have decided to get them,” said Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald. “The Judiciary leadership team recognizes that a fully vaccinated workforce is vital for the health and safety of one another and those we serve.

Those who have received their first dose and their second dose is scheduled, or who received their final dose less than two weeks ago, need not undergo testing so long as they timely obtain their second dose.

“Our hope is that more employees will get vaccinated to help our community battle this devastating virus,” Recktenwald said.

The Judiciary also announced that contractors and Judiciary volunteers must be vaccinated or test weekly beginning Oct. 4 as well.

These vaccination and testing policies fall in line with Gov. David Igeʻs recent requirements outlined for county and state employees as well as contractors who do work on state property.