Delta Airlines announced today that it has partnered with CVS Health Corp to provide rapid response nasal swab testing to detect COVID 19 within its flight crew base. The CVS tests are also used in school and other workplace settings, and are supervised CVS clinicians at Delta’s crew lounges. It will take less than 15 minutes to obtain test results.
What happened to Hawaii’s CVS testing partnership?
It has already been close to three months since Governor Ige and embarrassed Department of Health head Bruce Anderson proudly announced that a pre-travel testing deal had been reached with CVS. To date, however, no details of that partnership have been released, and thus it is questionable that an agreement ever actually came to fruition.
We wrote about this in Hawaii Delays Reopening Amid Failed Pre-Travel Testing Plans.
Once again we await news regarding Hawaii’s previous plans to reopen mainland travel, now scheduled for September 1, with pre-travel testing. It is highly unlikely that anything will change in September, and Hawaii’s 14-day quarantine may remain in effect for the foreseeable future. Stay tuned for that.
Where does Hawaii stand with testing and reopening as of today?
Testing for thousands of travelers a day is very different than testing for airline flight crews. The point is that Delta took the initiative and set this in motion. Hawaii hasn’t moved forward on this issue as far as anyone knows for three months among other problems.
While Hawaii’s governor indicated that he would provide an update on September reopening plans last week, none were forthcoming. This continues to frustrate Hawaii visitors and Hawaii travel industry stakeholders alike.
Image of Delta Airlines plane at LIH © Beat of Hawaii.
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Hawaii’s government is doing their absolute worst to get things back to normal. They need to follow Sweden’s model and let this virus run. I fear our economy will never fully recover especially when tourists see how other tourists are being treated. We all need to remember the fact that the easiest way to control a society is through fear and too many people are far too fearful of this virus, like we used to say “they drank the cool aid”. We need to get back to work and the keiki need to be in school with their teachers.
I agree we need to follow Sweden’s example, despite the high number of death’s in comparison to other countries that shut down like New Zealand. BUT there are two major components USA does not have that Sweden has: 1) Universal healthcare and 2) “It’s not everyone-for-himself — as face mask refusers in the United States or Brazil would have it — but everyone-for-the-community.” We are not looking out for each other, or most importantly our seniors and those at most risk due to poverty.
I don’t think it’s entirely Hawaii’s fault for the deal with CVS falling through. Here in Pennsylvania my wife and I took a test on July 3 and it took 13 days to get the results. I understand it’s better now, but CVS wasn’t up to doing what was expected with Hawaii.
With FDA’s recent approval of saliva testing there is now an affordable ($10) and reliable option (as effective as swab test) that provides a 24 hour turn around on results. Best of all the process is non-proprietary and is being shared with labs across America. This is truly the answer to getting businesses and travel moving safely anywhere when the time is right.
Thanks Beat of Hawaii keeping your readership informed!
Hi Karen.
Thanks.
Aloha.
You have it Karen. That new saliva test is coming from Yale. It looks like it’s going to be the gold standard in testing, fast easy and inexpensive, 94% effective, 3 to 5 hour turn around and the materials to make the test are easy to come by. That new test will make it possible to test millions quickly. It will be a game changer. However, I haven’t seen a time frame for availability yet.
I am hoping to fly home to Hawaii island on Labor Day but have not purchased tickets yet. There have been so many delays but we’re keeping our fingers crossed as it’s almost inconceivable Ige would pull the plug now with less than two weeks until the September 1 opening date.
Yes, O’ahu is a mess but case numbers are solidly trending down now and the other islands are in good shape. The economy desperately needs the additional revenue from trans-Pacific passengers even though the numbers will be low at first. The lack of travelers will be partially due to the horrendous lack of communication from the State.
I’ve been fooled several times already but maybe we’ll get lucky. Or maybe I’m delusional…
What a sucker I am. Just heard that the opening to mainland flights has been delayed yet again, supposedly to October 1. Of course everyone with common sense expected it, but not me.
Ige Fatigue will on steroids.
Thanks for the great continuing coverage regarding Plans for Hawaii opening again , with September now 2 weeks away it’s imperative the governor announces soon if the opening will be moved beyond the September 1 date . The drop in covid numbers this week is a positive but without a testing format like the state of Alaska now uses It appears the state of Hawaii is going to delay opening again . If the state of Alaska can create a testing format it should be possible for Hawaii to replicate it . Having a second test after 7 days would alleviate fears of travelers being complacent and not using precautions to avoid Covid .
Hi Tim.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Thank you for update! We all continue to be “frustrated” with testing availability and federal response to get this virus contained. So frustrating to see other countries like our neighbor Canada to the north handled it and now are able to open up!!!
Hi Amber.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Thanks for the update. I have been following closely but finally cancelled my plans to visit Kauai in mid-September.
Luckily booking with SW makes it super easy to cancel and get my point so back. Super sad that I can’t make it. I had fabulous flights coming from the east coast, but not meant to be this year.
I hope that the good people of Hawaii can get thru this tough time and be ready to welcome visitors soon.
Mahalo,
Erin
Hi Erin.
Thank you.
Aloha.
The Governor continues to put dollars before lives.