Word tonight from the federal Government Accountability Office caught our Hawaii eyes. The GAO is reporting that both rapid tests and reagents are now in wide-scale short supply. The situation is due to get worse, perhaps much worse, following an anticipated post-Thanksgiving surge and as we enter the colder winter season on the mainland. The products needed to process COVID-19 tests for medical needs as well as Hawaii travel are becoming scarce once again. That is according to GAO’s survey of 47 states and territories. This came as part of their report on the CARES Act.
Between 1/3 and 1/2 of all states have reported shortages within the past 30 days.
This announcement comes even before the post-Thanksgiving COVID surge, which is expected to further deplete critical testing availability. In the past week, the US saw the highest number of air travelers since COVID began, which peaked at 1.18 million this past Sunday.
“They’re almost certainly is going to be an uptick because of what has happened with the travel,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, in an ABC “This Week” interview.
So where does Hawaii travel fit in?
It isn’t clear yet whether Hawaii COVID chief and Lieutenant Governor Josh Green’s plan can now come to fruition or not. Green called for greatly ramp up testing by providing on-arrival tests to all visitors. One of the specific availability issues mentioned by GAO is the rapid tests which Green just proposed.
Green, a Big Island emergency room physician, this weekend proposed changes to the Safe Travels program intended to make it safer and help address the problem of test results not being obtained in time to meet the present 72-hour rules. Green suggested that visitors take PCR tests within 96 hours of travel to Hawaii. Then, arrivals would be required to take a second rapid antigen test on landing in Hawaii.
It’s interesting that months ago Green proposed on-arrival testing but said at that time that there were not adequate tests available to make that a reality. When he discussed his proposal this time around, he made no mention, or perhaps wasn’t aware of the just-released GAO report on testing shortages.
Kauai Still Planning 14-Day Quarantine Starting Wednesday.
If the testing shortage worsens, could a 14-day quarantine statewide become the only alternative? Kauai plans to implement a 14-day quarantine starting this Wednesday. This is a controversial plan, and our article about it has already had nearly 350 comments.
If travelers cannot be tested, however, the other islands and the State will have to address the situation somehow and make further changes. Stay tuned as this story develops.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
If we travel to Kona are thrift stores and restaurants open. This would be end of December.
Aloha-does anyone have any experience or insight on Mini Medical or Clinical Labs of Hawaii on Maui for inter island travel to the Big Island? Or another option?? Any advice is appreciated as we have a family of 5. Mahalo.
It was announced that, starting today, the Big Island will now require all travelers to take a rapid antigen test on arrival at Kona Airport. Kauai is reported to have purchased 15,000 rapid test kits. If Kauai adopts the same policy as the Big Island (rapid test on arrival) that would be a positive and workable step to restore some credibility to Hawaii travel.
Love the idea – finally something sane – but be careful what you wish for… there are two kinds of rapid tests – the antigen test referenced in your first sentence costs about $50-$70 – the NAAT Rapid version, which you didn’t differentiate, costs about $200! Great idea – let’s just hope they don’t get carried away with the word “rapid”!
Is CVS still a trusted travel partner? I heard they dropped out.
States make independent decisions regarding their state. It’s Not feds job to force states to provide testing. How is the president responsible for governing the independent state of Hawaii or any other state ?
I forgot to say please in my just submitted comment. Thank you. I have forgotten my manners.
I am trying to return to Kihei,Which I left just about a year ago.I have rented an apartment starting December 15. Unfortunately I’m having a crazy time trying to get back. I am currently in Chicago Where there is not one single testing facility approved by the state of Hawaii where I can go for the required Covid test. The CVS website says they cannot perform tests for Hawaii and to go elsewhere, and although there are dozens of Walgreens in the city, none of them can turn around a test in the required amount of time. My only option is to take a cab to the far suburbs where there Is one single Walgreens that claims they can perform this test and hopefully get the results back to me in time. I don’t have a car, so to get to the north side of Chicago to this far flung suburb will probably cost me $100 each way. I’ve talk to some very nice people at United Airlines And even at the mayors office, but no one knows how to help me get the test I need here in the city. This is crazy. How is Chicago ones getting to Maui these days? I’m guessing they’re not.
Hi Roscoe.
What about Vault, which is done at home and sent by UPS? Overall comments indicate they are doing a good job.
Aloha
We arrived Maui 11/28 after stressful pre-travel planning. The entire HI process was somewhat confusing. Website 4 steps are incorrectly ordered. You can’t complete Health (2) until you upload your covid test results in Docs (4). Watch the video on first page of website for the best explanation.
We flew AA & booked tests with the HI & AA partner CareOne. The tests were given at DFW, our last leg of travel
The results & QR were provided in 10 minutes. We uploaded them from there and the results were available 8 hours later in Maui.
My take is that no one really knows the best solution to the virus till the vaccine is available. Pandemic response has been compounded by politics in HI, as it has been in all other states. But why do the instructions have to be confusing?
I’m trying to fly to Honolulu for a governmental job interview. Walgreens cannot guarantee test results and their lab provider (Labcorp) cannot give me any details about results other than that they should be back between 1-3 days. It’s been over 48 hours since I was tested and I have no results. CVS as many of you know now cannot promise results (this was changed after I already received notification that I have an interview scheduled). Walgreens has no idea how long it’s been taking for results lately and neither does the lab.
No other appointments are available or were available for any other testing options.
I really hope this system changes, so many of us are being impacted by a system that frankly seems to be broken.
You are not helping the tourism industry by continuing to post alarmist stories. We are figuring it out and so far it is working. These are obviously unprecedented times for all. Stories like this are spreading fear to would be tourists are causing cancellations and further hurting our economy. I appreciate your website and all that you do but posting stories like this is starting to get redundant. Thanks
All these people wanting to come here please think about this
If you come to Hawaii and get sick with Covid19 you will not leave the islands sick.
Aloha guys,
Thank you for your newsletter; extremely helpful, reliable and honest. Is the government listening (lol).
I have a question regarding the negative test results ‘date’. I am scheduled to fly out of SFO – Kona on Christmas Eve – December 24th flight at 11:00 am.
Do I need to provide a Negative Test at SFO Airport?
Do I need to provide a Negative Test at KOA Airport?
Both?
72 hours prior to travel – which means the Negative Test Results date *has* to be …..(this is where my question is) – December 21, 2020. Is this correct?
Not December 20th | or is this acceptable?
Not December 22nd | and is this acceptable?
Trying to figure out how I guarantee the lab processes my test on ______________”x” date.
Thanks for your help. It’s so confusing as information changes (sometimes) daily with regard to Hawaii travel.
Thank you!
Hi Valerie.
Thank you. So a December 24 11am flight means you must test at 11am on December 21, or later. But not before. You will likely be given another test on arrival at Kona.
Aloha.
Some organized push back on Mayor Kawakami’s 14 day travel quarantine has been reported.
As reported in the The TGI Garden Island Newspaper
“The temporary opt-out, however, has some residents banding together against it, including the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce, which mobilized its cohort of over 400 small businesses to write to Ige against the opt-out”
“One online petition floating around, “Demand that Governor Ige Rescind His Approval of Kaua‘i Requiring Another 14 Day Quarantine,” had over 2,500 signatures as of Monday afternoon. Some comments mention a lack of assistance, suffering small businesses and questioning the legality of the quarantine”
We’ll see if this gains any steam
Hi Richard.
That is true. There is a change.org petition.
Aloha.
The damage is done. Even if Kauai went back on the pre-test program tomorrow (the same day it stopped), everyone/anyone paying attention has already canceled, including airlines, at least through the holidays. And why would you trust the rules to not change again (and again)?
And requiring a post arrival quarantine of only 3-5 days will not get tourists back, at least not very many. Would be better for returning residents, though.
DB you’re right, but what about down the road if all we are hearing from are backers of Kawakami then shutdowns will continue.
People who oppose these measures aren’t being heard they need away to get a seat at the table and the petition is one way to be heard.
Also do residents and business owners that oppose the current policy wait until the policy is extended or do they need to act now to gain future influence. They have nothing to lose, so I say go for it.
Aloha, no it will not gain speed because the vast majority of us on Kaua’i wear our masks, social distance and show our Aloha however we can as we protect others and they protect us. How anyone who follows reliable news can plan a vacation over the holidays is beyond me. All these questions about how do I do this or we’re planning to come just don’t. Stay home, protect yourself and us, Hawaii will be waiting but it is not safe for anyone to travel at this time. Please please just stay home, donate to your local food bank, donate to the food bank on the island you were going to visit, there are several on each island, I guarantee. Folks are hurting everywhere.
The flaw in the 96 hour pre-travel test – even the 72-hour one – is that there is not a requirement/recommendation that the traveler then self-quarantine post-test & pre-travel. If folks really did that, it would move the test from only revealing a moment-in-time status to something with greater validity in reflecting the traveler’s health status upon arrival.
I know. I’m a dreamer. Ain’t gonna happen. But felt compelled to look at the whole set up with at least a pinch of logic.
This makes a lot more sense…that traveller’s would quarantine at home before travel so they could enjoy their vacation when they arrive.
Kauai is totally unreasonable. We agree that all county workers involved in decision making to have their pay halted until everyone else is allowed to work and life returns to normal.
This is ridiculous and so unfair and selfish of the decision makers. When people start thinking of taking their life because they can’t support their family or death sounds better than what they are having to deal with due to the decisions being made….things need to change and get back to normal, immediately…if they excited oriole to believe they care.
96 hr test results, would make sense, since
72 hr results here in California are nearly impossible to obtain.
What is wrong with Hawaii’s thinking???
We are from Morro Bay California nand would have had to drive to Fresno for testing if not for Vault. We had results in 36 hours including travel time from CA to NJ testing site. They had us write “Hawaii stat” on the outside of the packaging. We made it to the Big Island for a month. The stress and headaches are not worth it for a quick trip IMHO. We are very fortunate to work from anywhere.
A 96-hour policy would certainly be more traveler-friendly. Most mainland labs are reporting “2 to 3 day turnaround” on test results. Even if a traveler-to-be is tested at exactly 72 hours prior to their departure from their last mainland airport before the Islands, the traveler doesn’t truly have 72 hours to get their result…most travelers leave for Hawaii early in the morning, and thus need to have received their result at latest the night prior to travel in order to convert the result into pdf form and submit it to their Safe Travels Hawaii account. Then they have to hope for a quick response with the QR Code. Because there is the possibility of a last minute flight cancel if the test result does NOT return prior to departure from home to the airport, travelers cannot risk losing their lodging fees owing to a last minute cancellation, and therefore must cancel their lodging before the facility’s “drop-dead” date and hope to rebook the accommodation last-minute if the test result WAS received and uploaded successfully. Such chaos. Having 96 hours rather than 72 would make a HUGE difference for travelers. Especially if another test (Antigen or preferably PCR) could be obtained shortly after island arrival. My wife and I cancelled our island vacation scheduled for the 12th-19th of December owing to the 72-hour rule and the doubt that we’d receive our test results in time for travel.
Also FYI: for Oregon residents, currently there is only ONE testing site option, at Portland International Airport. Please, Hawaii, allow for more Oregon-based “Trusted Testing Partners”! (e.g. Legacy Labs, and/or various hospital systems)
Not true. I am having mine done with US Biotek, Located at 12003 NE Ainsworth Cir #103
Portland, OR 97220
My Big Island Thanksgiving vacation week was cancelled due to late test results from CVS. It cost me $139 for a test that was useless. There were almost no testing options here in Phoenix. CVS was the only place I could get an appointment 2 days ahead. Had the State of Hawaii allowed us to use our own Health Care provider, namely Mayo Clinic, my Thanksgiving vacation would have remained an annual tradition for the last 30 years! The State needs to open up accepted partners to any certified medical providers. Really? Mayo is not good enough?
I’m sorry you’re getting this information too late but Xprescheck.com at the Phoenix Airport allows for testing appointments well in advance. They offer both PRC and Rapid Results testing. They are a Trusted Partner. We’ve made reservations to be tested on January 4!!! They are open Thursday thru Monday.
I cannot understand at all why people are even attempting to go there right now!
AMY… People have their reasons and there are million of them.
Thank you! I agree. Not only have people been asked over and over ad nauseum not to travel, but crikey!shouldn’t it be more important that there are tests for medical reasons, forget for travel? I would think so. Have a good holiday, Amy- stay safe!
Amy, also remember that these inane rules apply equally to returning residents as well as tourists. So, both of my daughters, who are in college on the mainland, are having to jump through all these hoops just to come home. One made it home right before the latest rules went into effect (and that was fortunate, because CVS took just over four days to get her results to her). My other daughter, who will be traveling in another couple of weeks, is having to navigate through the new rules; unfortunately, the way it’s looking, she’s going to have to quarantine through Christmas, despite having twice-weekly Covid tests at her college since August! I really wish the state had some special provisions to help out returning residents, particularly returning college students.
Agree Amy! People can be so selfish.
People, please think about others here on Island and stay home for a while.
Things are too hard to predict right now. I have a relative that just passed away from COVID-19. That makes 6 of our extended Ohana gone.
Hawai’i will be here when this mess gets figured out.
We all need to practice Aloha and stay safe.
Blessings. Mahalo to Beat of Hawai’i for always thinking of others first.
Love these guys 🌺
Hi Pam.
It’s mutual. Thank you!!
Aloha.
PS: Are you near Cranberry PA?
This was in today’s “The Garden Island”…
“The House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness has submitted a proposal to modify the state’s Safe Travels program which involves offering rapid post-arrival tests to travelers awaiting pre-travel testing results.
The committee suggested modifying the program to allow travelers without their 72-hour pre-travel test who are subject to the two-week quarantine to take a rapid test at the airport, and then once they receive a negative result from the original pre-travel test, be released from the quarantine.”
Kauai has stated that it will be maintaining its 14 days quarantine regardless.
Beat of Hawaii, you guys are The BEST!!! Maholo for keeping us updated everyday on the ever-changing Hawaii-Covid curfuffle!
Aloha nui
Hi Lisa.
Thanks for your comments and those nice words. We appreciate it.
Aloha.
This is disappointing. We have plans to travel to Hawaii in Feb/March of 2021. Those plans are certainly in jeopardy. But I am not surprised at this failure to have sufficient testing available. The federal government, under the complete lack of guidance by the incompetent occupant of the White House, has totally failed the American people. But why have the governors and their state agencies also become incompetent? It begs the question, “has the government of the USA always been this dysfunctional?” And has the declaration that the USA is the greatest nation on earth just empty propaganda? The USSR also sold this propaganda to it’s people – and we know what became of the USSR! Soon to be the fate of the USA? It may happen in the next month or so if the moron-in-chief continues his ignorant destructive actions!
DONALD M,
No politics are needed. You’re insults aren’t helping anything.
Please try to keep within the guidelines that we’re all asked to abide by.
Mahalo and Aloha