The moral of this story is that even if you live in Hawaii and test positive before your return flight from the mainland, do not board the plane. A local couple did just that and were arrested on arrival yesterday at LIH on Kauai. We still don’t understand all of the circumstances, or how they were allowed to board the United Airlines flight after testing positive in San Francisco during pre-travel screening.
It would seem like their boarding pass would have been taken. Why this didn’t happen, we do not know yet. But also, why would anyone knowingly fly with COVID and possibly expose so many people to the virus?
Airlines are able to ban COVID-infected passengers from boarding and most require travelers to complete a health questionnaire and screening prior to flight. How that worked or didn’t, in this case, is not yet clear. The couple also had a child with them on the flight.
We checked with the Hawaii District Court on Kauai earlier. The couple was apparently charged with reckless endangerment. They posted bail of $1,000 each. It isn’t clear what the possible penalty is for a conviction based on that charge. Also, it is possible that their violation could also be associated to Kauai’s COVID regulations, which coincidentally calls for $1,000 bail. Those rules are largely related to violation of the 14-day quarantine, so we aren’t clear where this would fit in. If convicted based on the COVID rules, they could each face up to a $5,000 fine and/or up-to one year in jail.
So here is my question, which I have not seen addressed in any articles about this couple who knowingly flew while Covid positive…..What about the other people who were on that United flight to Kauai with this couple. Have they all been contacted and are they required to quarantine as well? I would think the answer would be something that the flying public has a right to know.
With the “less than 72 hour before boarding” rule, people have a strong motivator to get tested pre-flight. But, now that Kauai is back to mandatory 14 day quarantine, few if any people flying here will bother to get a pre-flight test. What’s the point?
This couple was facing a mandatory quarantine anyway, since they did not have negative results. If they were flying one day later, they would not have gotten tested, and no one would have been the wiser. I’m not justifying their actions, just making an observation.
The old scared people of Kauai celebrating Mayor Anger Management’s decision should understand they actually made it more likely that returning residents will bring the virus with them. But, since they will all be in quarantine, what does it matter? Well, since no more non-stops to Kauai, people must first fly to HNL or OGG, and vast majority of people on the same flights are headed for other islands that don’t require quarantine.
So, maybe a coordinated, identical for all islands, all travelers, set of rules is not such a bad idea after all??
United Airlines released a new statement on Dec. 3 at 8 a.m. stating that the couple who boarded a plane after testing positive for COVID-19 are no longer welcome on United flights.
“We have banned these customers and will investigate this matter,” United said.
I just arrived in Hawaii last night. When I was boarding for my final leg of the flight, the airline didn’t ask for my COVID results. I had them in hand and the person at the gate said, she didn’t need to see it, I will be checked upon landing in HI.
That is because you are not required to be tested in order to fly to Hawaii. You must however follow the state mandated rules, that is have a timely negative covid test result from a designated source, if you want an exemption from the 14 day quarantine.
It is reasonable to assume that no tourist will board a flight without being in compliance.
Aloha, I flew into Maui yesterday and was surprised to overhear a group of returning residents tell the folks checking our paperwork at ogg that they did not test since they were choosing to quarantine. So there are many instances where there is a possibility of flying with positive covid passengers…
I am really sorry to have to say – these are the sort of mindless, reckless, selfish behavior that support draconian measures to control this pandemic. Like impose huge fines, jail time, mandatory masking and so on. This country’s willy nilly, politically correct response since March is pathetic. Not only communist countries can utilize harsh measures for the good of the public – look at the numerous free first world countries who have done just that and their cases are almost non-existent. From memory so could be off, but Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and so on…you can Google it, but among the top countries where COVID is under control.
We are now paying for it now – you better pray you or a loved one does not end up in emergency in the next six – twelve months. If you are unlucky, you will not get timely, good care because resources literally are being/have been literally consumed by COVID cases. Resources means anything from ICU beds, medicine, and even medical personnel, and personnel who are not worn out physically and mentally from months on end of deaths and long hours.
I can’t understand the point you’re trying to make.
I agree. The question is If this wasn’t an election year, would President Trump have declared Marshall Law in January or February ( the state rights be dammed ) and taken a national plan approach. It would not have been popular ( to put it mildly) but would have been the way to control a global pandemic. We’ll never know
Perhaps Kawakami will make a statement on this? About how important it is for residents to follow the protocols? Nah he won’t make a peep. It’s so much easier to pander to the locals and blame the evil of the visitor industry for Kauai’s supposed rampant virus spread (all of 16 active on-island cases, according to today’s Garden Island Newspaper). It’s a much less local-friendly story to tell when the inconvenient truth is that locals not following rules are the main cause of Kauai’s cumulative case total of 137 since March.
BOH…thank you for your reports and all you report on.
I am wondering if a person gets an upcoming covid 19 vaccine…and then wants to travel to Hawaii (Assuming this person also does the pretesting before the flight)…could they test positive because of receiving the shot???…or is the vaccination comprised of “dead virus” like our annual flu shots???
I have not heard how this might affect our results after being vaccinated. Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you
Hi Jean.
Good question. We certainly assume you would not test positive after receive the vaccine.
Aloha.
Depending on the content and composition of the vaccine and the type of test given, you very well could test positive after receiving a vaccine. And, because no vaccine is 100% effective, it will be interesting to see how the state handles those issues. Is the positive COVID test a result of the vaccine, or is it because the vaccine was not effective for that person? Don’t forget about false negatives, either. At some point we will have to move to Realville, and get on with our lives as normal, as we do with the flu and other viruses.
Irresponsible, inconsiderate of others and arrogant.