There’s no doubt that Hawaii is heading into uncharted territory with regards to Covid cases, and perhaps other more concerning metrics as well. Today the state announced there were 1,828 new Covid cases, while it is growing rapidly on all islands. And this is likely just the beginning of where we could be in the next few weeks, with the potential being reported of upwards to 20,000 cases per day across all the islands.
Health Dept. says avoid travel + looks towards changes to 72-hour trusted partner testing.
Yesterday, Elizabeth Char, head of the state’s Department of Health said, “If you can avoid travel right now, avoid travel right now.” She was speaking at a virtual press conference. You can be quite certain, however, that her message was intended for both residents and visitors and that it had been approved by the governor. It is interesting that this came from Char rather than Ige, while it is our observation that Char doesn’t even breathe without Ige’s consent.
Regarding what changes to Hawaii Safe Travels Covid protocols lie ahead, Char intimated that potential with regards to the current 72-hour testing only from approved partners option. She said, “Do we change up the test or shorten that window? That’s another option. So yes, we are discussing it. But again, the public health recommendation would be you test as close to flying time as possible… But understand that there are challenges in implementing that.” We haven’t heard the last of this.
Are visitors part of Hawaii’s Covid problem?
The state reports that only 1% of all cases are related to non-resident travel. But, is that actually true? We hadn’t given that too much thought until an interesting comment this morning piqued our interest. We’d like to know your thoughts on this.
Regular commentor Liam said, “If you test positive for Covid while vacationing in Hawaii you will not tell anyone unless you are gravely ill. What they should be tracking is how many people left early. No one in their right mind who tests positive will admit it as it will cost them 1000s of dollars as they get locked in quarantine for two weeks at $500 a night and can only eat room service. Not to mention car rental for two weeks that you can’t use along with parking and resort fees. You are looking at 15k.”
Covid Hawaii flight cancellations mount.
It has been widelky reported that airlines are having flight cancellation issues this holiday weekend as staff and crew call in sick during the Omicron surge. As a result, there is a mounting number of Hawaii flight cancellations too. We just checked on Hawaii flight cancelations by airport and here’s what we found.
At Honolulu, there are 9 canceled flights today: Delta Airlines (4), United Airlines (2), Hawaiian Airlines (2), and Westjet Airlines (1).
At Maui, there are 7 canceled flights today: Delta Airlines (4), United Airlines (2), and Hawaiian Airlines (1).
At Kona and on Kauai, there are no flights that have been canceled today.
And from a more personal perspective…
With the greater chances of getting the “new” Covid, we’re reviewing for ourselves the suggested protocols here in Hawaii and elsewhere.
Regular commenter Barbara pointed out this morning that she’s only using N95 and KN95 masks now as is being recommended widely. “CDC has now recommended against using just cloth masks – if using, use a second underneath. Not exactly comfortable or cool but necessary with Omicron. They recommend using a 5 ply N95 (US certified) or KN95 (Chinese certified). They mentioned that there are many “counterfeit” masks that have not actually been certified. I did research this morning. I bought MedicPro N95 masks on Amazon (NIOSH approved) for use on the plane. Otherwise, using ordinary KN95s.”
BOH editors were invited to a program that then lead to a dinner party last night. There were perhaps 100 guests. We chose to attend the program, but did not stay for food or drink nor did either of us ever remove our well-fitting KN95 masks.
That long-planned and paid-for event came on the heels of the County, State, and Federal governments all suggesting that people avoid large gatherings right now. In that regard, Char said, “Any large gathering… is a ‘horrible idea’ right now, especially at places where people take their masks off to eat or drink.”
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My daughter, fully vaccinated, is scheduled to return to Honolulu from San Francisco East Bay Area, on 1/08/22. She attends University of Hawaii at Manoa. They have already put the first 2 weeks of Spring semester on “fully remote.” Please let me know if you think it would behoove her to change her Southwest flight for 2 weeks out as well, or take her chances that her flight won’t be cancelled and she can return as planned? Thank you for any advice you have to offer.
Hi Camille.
We have no sense about further cancellations and they appear to be calming down. But of course we don’t have a crystal ball.
Aloha.
“Some Vermonters who are able to find antigen tests and then test positive are clogging up emergency rooms.
The emergency department at the Rutland Regional Medical Center has been overwhelmed with asymptomatic folks.” WCAX.com
Wait until 500 million test kits arrive in our hands.
“Modern man must descend the spiral of his own absurdity to the lowest point; only then can he look beyond it.”
– Vaclav Havel
Wouldn’t prudent caution trump cest la vie?
“No one ever died poor underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”
-attributed to PT Barnum (an astute observer of those who attribute truth to others’ quotes)
A fully vaccinated crew on one of our Navy ships is currently stranded at the port in Guantanamo Bay due to an outbreak of Covid. It’s time to acknowledge the importance of natural immunity in getting us out of this mess. Omicron is very mild and everyone who I know getting it has been vaccinated & boosted. It’s like a cold. Stop listening to the fear and panic driven media. I work in healthcare & the N95 masks must be properly fitted to even work correctly. Live life, exercise, get Vit D!
Spoken as authority, but not accurate in fact. Natural immunity from numerous scientific studies has been shown to help for those vaxed and boosted, but certainly not a cure all. Still too early to know how Omicron affects, though South Africa indicates that it’s spread is short lived. Caution and rudeness is not fear and panic. Still question why so many proclaimed health care workers are still un vaxed. This is a novel coronavirus, not a cold.
So what is medically sound to cut omicron and not politics?
1) travel – no one flies into or out of Hawaii or interisland without the booster.
2) close the bars at 7.00 pm as alcohol causes folks not to mask properly or distance
3) increase social distancing indoors
4) move to 24 hour testing on top of booster and stop partner program. Ensuring airlines arrange on airport while you wait testing for all flights in or out
5) prohibit quarantine in accommodation used by family or others.
RICH… Could you clarify #4 – don’t understand. Agree completely with your comment regarding 24 hour prior testing but sometimes it isn’t that easy, particularly with the “Trusted Partner” requirement in place. Thankfully, finally, both Walgreens and CVS’s in our state are offering Rapid Results Testing – previously, we had to drive 7 hours to get a test. But still, it’s a logistical nightmare for us as we ave to drive 7 hours day before our flight OR spend $350 in additional air fare.
Barbara, the Partner Program no longer serves a purpose. It merely drives up costs and makes 24 hour testing difficult. Before the vaccination option came in I would always fly DFW as AA have on airport partners with while you wait tests. As the wristband initiatives, airlines should be required to have on airport testing. Cutting the time between test and flying is crucial with omicron but currently on airport while you wait testing is expensive ($250) so work is needed there .
Trip insurance is a necessity for travel now and has been. Before booking hotels or activities check covid refund policy. Get 3 shots and go. Safe travels to all
I suggest that Hawaiihas a unique opportunity to be a test for breakthrough infections of vaccinated individuals by reinstating the covid testing policy removed 7/7/2021 by the safe travels program prior to the huge surge in delta cases beginning 7/10/2021-9/10/2021.If SafeTravels reinstated the testing policy along with uploading a vaccination card the state could see how many passengers are canceling their flights during the 72 hour period prior to their flight could be a fairly accurate indic
Indicator of breakthrough infections. For the protection of Hawaii’s local population, I respectfully request the Governor please reinstate the testing requirement. It is truly the best way to protect our state.
Sadly, on our Island of Hawaii, there are pockets (mostly rural) that have a ~35% vax rate. That means that one should expect that two of every three people you come in contact are carriers. I expect the same is true on other islands. N95 indoors is the norm until the recalcitrant begin to see that the light at the end of the tunnel is the virus.
We have been at it for close to 2 yrs and still zero progress so time
To declare what’s been done has failed. The real science is in the Balfour declaration so time to follow the real science. Masks never work as proved in many studies so they got to go as you’re reinventing
Yourself. Nor do lockdowns. Focus on treatment zn citrus. Or let the economy go into the crapper.
I live on Kauai but I’m gladly here in Florida being free as a bird. I’m really glad people here aren’t so paranoid and they’re outside getting exercise and having fun. If you dig deep into Hawaii politics you will then find why their health care system is so screwed up. Hawaii has done nothing But spu fear and test When they could have been Converting testing centers into some Monoclonal Facilities. there way behind the curve because they are backwards thinkers. I know that’s because I wor
On the Gulf coast for the last few weeks. Not a single Covid conversation here in FL. Everybody happy and smiling.
Compare that to the West Coasters and Hawaii. All you can say is “enjoy what’s left of the next couple years” I guess….
38,000 cases on 12/24. 17,000 daily avg. in Dec. alone. Read please before you deceive.
More than 68,000 dead Floridians might take issue with your “ analysis”. That is if they could still talk.
How many dead in CA and NY?
Aloha BOH Bro’s
Don’t travel to Hawaii, yet the planes keep a flying and resorts keep checking folks in. Only another lockdown will stop tourist from coming.
RICHARD C… Sometimes you just have to – mentally, emotionally and physically. Sometimes you just have to take that risk to save yourself!
I’m just so sad and frustrated at the prospect of canceling another trip, and also concerned about the damage Omicron will do in Hawaii re overwhelming its healthcare system and hurting tourism and the economy. It’s frightening to think about covid positive tourists not reporting and getting on flights back home with covid. I’d like to see testing required within 24 hours of boarding any flight. Thanks always to eat of Hawaii for helping us navigate these difficult waters. Happy holidays!!
Hi Glenna.
Thanks. Happy holidays!
Aloha.
The islanders and the Hawaiian government need to adopt the Pogo mantra: We have met the enemy and he are us! You need to have proof of vaccination, a booster, and a COVID test to get on an airplane. It is not perfect, but it goes a long way in controlling the spread between the islands and the mainland. It sort of stomps on the personal rights thing, but at some point….
What we really need is the right treatment at the right time. Viruses are how we evolve. We are mostly viruses and bacteria. Then we could all get Covid and strengthen our immunity.
Radical I know.
You are definitely onto something with your long-term solution, but we have two tools – effective vaccines and infection. The clear problem is that the privileged nations contain “vidiots”, who refuse to recognize that we are all one community and they shirk their collective responsibility to “evolve” out of our predicament. The only result: the virus evolves faster with variants than the poorer nations can help due to lack of acces to vaccines.
I have been saying for months that the 1% of the Covid caases being attributed to tourists is a bogus number. When we get mildly sick when we are on vacation we don’t seek medical care, (Doctor, Hospital, or Virus Test.) We just deal with it with rest and over the counter medication. If most tourists are like us they would do the same with mild and perhaps moderate cases of Coronavirus and never get tested or counted.
Cannot help thinking we are creating unnecessary worry. Nothing decided at State or National level. People should not cancel or worry just leep checking the news here and on hawaii gov website. Likely to be after Christmas before anything happens and Hawaii is waiting for Biden I think.
I keep reading that the vast majority of cases come from the locals, traveling to the mainland and/or spreading it within their community. Let’s just go back to testing everyone vaccinated or not. I traveled twice this past year and was tested even though vaccinated. I have two trips planned for 2022. I will get my booster next week.
Much to do about nothing..if you are vaccinated and boosted. Omicron is less lethal than D. The virus is spreading fast but over 80% of those who have got it don’t have any or very minor symptoms. Many didn’t know they were infected till tested. Heard of one Covid death in US, a 50-year-old unvaccinated person who was compromised. Stories should be more about getting shots, not how many people are getting Covid!! For the vaccinated, it is not a killer..for teh vaccinated it could be!!
We love everything about Hawaii and pray for all the people there. We want all of them to stay well and if that means we will miss coming we will wait. A beautiful paradise that should remain pristine forever.
Omicron has proven to have a very small hospitalization rate. This is the safest one yet. No matter how hard we try to prevent it, it will still rapidly spread. I say get vaccinated, remove your masks, and live life to its fullest. The faster everyone is exposed and build their own immunities the faster this will all go away. And remember the more we test the more cases we will get. Keep an eye on the ICU rate. That is the real sign of when we need to be concerned.
Why hasn’t Gov. Ige sought Federal/Military assistance in building “Field Hospitals” in Hawaii. The military built them all over the mainland and even deployed Hospital Ships. We have several Military Bases in Hawaii. This is a huge over-site by Gov. Ige! Tired of hearing that we don’t want to overload our small hospitals..
Merle Kalikimaka
If Governor Ige reduces the pre trip Covid test from 72 Hrs. to 24 Hrs before departure he will effectively be shutting down travel to Hawaii. I can’’t even meatiness the horrible fallout from this for people having to fight for refunds on lodging, rental car, and airline flights. I see a huge Over Reaction to this new COVID-19 variant.
One last point. Why is it that the State of Hawaii has not requested Federal Assistance in building more Hospital Space? We have several Military Bases,
Aloha, re building more hospital space. I guess it’s too big of a headache as we would have to prove the need. There is already so much shortage of hospital staff in general with traveling healthcare needed and used prior to Covid. The sooner we get herd immunity the better off we will be. With consistent outpatient treatment that needs better implementation we can reduce fear, hospitalization and reduce the length of the illness. We don’t even have full disclosure from an emergency shot yet.
Reality check time! The omicron variant has the symptoms of a cold. Instead of rushing to hospitals with your cold symptoms, head on over to Long’s or Walgreens for cold meds and for God’s sake, stop with the testing all of the time. And by the way, even in South Africa they are noticing large drops in the cases as it appears to be burning out already so stop with the knee jerk responses to everything.
Aloha,
Seems like Omicron runs two weeks and it may be a strong sign that the virus is getting weaker and we will all have had some version of it and be stronger for having it and surviving. No everyone is so lucky but the flu also wipes out those we are weak as well.
Hundreds of airline employees are out sick today. How many became infected on the plane and how many passengers are exposed daily?
Think of those sick tourists flying home with no outbound testing, might be sitting right beside you.
We’re still coming! But we’re bringing straws to drink on the plane and will just go hungry for a while as we don’t want to take our masks off even to eat!
Can you say HEPA filters onboard the planes? Sure you can.
HEPA filters, according to infectious disease folks, are effective if everyone on the plane choose to open their vents wide open and freeze. Close the vents, and you have eliminated the effectiveness.
Hawai’i is no longer in my travel plans. It will be quite awhile until things calm down and I can get into the state without showing proof of anything. It’s too much of a hassle for me and my family. We’ll find new places to go.