On Wednesday, the federal government’s CDC said that it is considering requiring mandatory pre-flight COVID testing for all passengers on flights within the US. That could essentially align Hawaii with a national plan and eliminate many of the issues that Hawaii-bound travelers alone have faced.
CDC says it wants testing for domestic flights.
CDC director Rochelle Walensky was on CNN and addressed the concept directly. She said, “I would like to really see much of that budget (American Rescue Act), and I think the Biden administration as well, to use it for high-risk activities, and one of those high-risk activities would be for travel and domestic flights.” This came following another CDC official, Dr. Martin Cetron, confirming the agency’s interest in such a plan.
Earlier in the week, the federal government starting requiring COVID testing of all international arrivals, with tests taken within 72 hours of departure.
Your comments say to test all Hawaii bound passengers.
In hundreds, if not more comments over this entire COVID experience, you’ve expressed a desire to have testing of all passengers. At present, since that can only be required by federal authority, it is up to passengers to decide if they want to test and avoid or reduce quarantine or not. Most of you do, but not everyone.
Residents were disincentivized by Kauai rules to take pre-travel tests.
There is not always a compelling reason for returning residents to pay for and deal with the issues around obtaining pre-flight testing. That is the case on Kauai, for example, where residents must adhere to a 10-day quarantine, with or without testing. Many say they do not test since it is costly and does not help their situation.
Is national testing a logistical nightmare?
We can’t wrap our heads around exactly how a federally required testing program would work. Questions include:
• Are there adequate tests?
• Who would administer testing?
• What time frame would pre-travel tests be required within (72 hours of travel)?
• Who at the airlines, TSA, or another group, would be responsible for managing this framework at the airport and beyond.
• What technologies would be utilized (think Hawaii’s Safe Travels as an example)?
Would this help you feel safer in traveling?
What comes to mind for us is that the airplane itself may not be particularly dangerous. At the same time, however, what about the airport, at TSA, in the jet bridge, at baggage claim, etc. Those feel particularly weird at the moment.
What the airlines have to say.
We heard that the airlines were opposed to the concept of requiring universal pre-flight testing. We found that interesting since the airlines have largely supported adding pre-flight testing on international flights as a way of reopening travel. So why would the same not be true for domestic travel, including Hawaii? And yet airlines are afraid this will add undue burden to them, single out the industry unfairly, and reduce demand.
Hawaiian Airlines’ Senior VP Avi Mannis late today told Beat of Hawaii the following:
“Like many in the industry, we would be concerned about the immense logistical challenges of making tests available and screening travelers in a nationwide program. I am also not sure that this is the highest and best use of limited testing capacity at this point in the pandemic. But we look forward to the opportunity to engage as an industry with CDC and other agencies. There are many lessons to share from our experience here in Hawaii, where we encountered many of those challenges starting up Safe Travels.”
Southwest Airlines president Tom Nealon.
Nealon appeared to be unaware of what, if anything, would be required of the airlines. He said, “It’s not clear if, when, what, how we’d be asked to do that.” CEO Gary Kelly said he thinks the focus should be on vaccines rather than on more testing. About this idea, he said it “Would be a mistake… I just think it’s wholly impractical.” He believes the availability of testing and the costs associated with such a program would be excessive. Lastly, Kelly said he feels that mandating testing would unfairly “Pick on travel.” He said you might as well then test everyone before the grocery store. Hmmm. We aren’t sure about that analogy.
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker.
Parker said it would be a challenge and “would have us testing Americans on airplanes that we all know are safe to be on… We haven’t heard anything directly from regulators or others about that possibility… We certainly would want to make sure it’s not something that would restrict demand.”
Comments started here. Please add yours below.
(Laurie) “The fact that we still can fly having tested and following all the safe travel to Hawaii guidelines, yet sit a few feet away from someone who did not test, is crazy to me.”
(Cyndi) “I agree with the person who said the airlines should not let people on the plane if they are not going to be cleared on arrival.”
(David) “Unless-until the federal government and/or individual airlines impose a pre-travel testing requirement, there is no stopping someone from boarding.”
(Sally) “So I could still be sitting next to an Asymptomatic person on a flight for several hours as long as that person quarantines for 14 days? I’ll opt out of flying for now thank you.”
(Kathy) “The problem with people who do not have a negative test before they fly is that they could infect others on the plane. It should be mandatory that all travelers flying to Hawai’i have a negative Covid Test to protect the islands and other passengers on the flight. This is a no-brainer and should have been done from the get-go.”
(Kym) “Couldn’t this problem be resolved by tourists being required to have proof of their 72hr negative results before they board the plane on the mainland? Why board a plane hoping to get your results before you land or hoping the results will be negative?”
(Eric) “My understanding is that the flights originate in other states and fall under interstate commerce which is federally regulated. Hawaii doesn’t have the power to mandate what travelers do until they arrive in Hawaii. Hawaii can impose quarantines or testing upon arrival but not before.”
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We could start with temperature checks. I know that’s far from perfect (many people with COVID don’t have fevers) but I flew to Orlando in December and other than submitting an online form saying I have no symptoms, no one checked anything else.
‘Start with temperature checks’? Are you serious? ‘Far from reliable’ doesn’t even begin to describe how useless and counterproductive that is. We paid a bunch of money for temperature scanning cameras at our main airports and most are either currently broken or ignored and not monitored. You were able to fly to Orlando without issue because, well……Florida. Thanks for playing tho….
I also agree that every traveler should have proof of a negative Covid test Before boarding a flight. It should be mandatory. A person should also be able to go to any testing facility to obtain a test. It is very difficult to find Hawaii approved test centers that can guarantee a 72 hour turn around. Kaiser can’t guarantee it.
Good morning. We are now approaching (again) our scheduled visit and since BOH has been a wealth of info I’m wondering if you could fill me in as to requirements and the Hawaiian agency that we will need to contact as of today 02/01/21. Thank you much
Hi Bob.
All of the current rules regarding travel are found here. https://beatofhawaii.com/ultimate-guide-to-hawaii-travel-during-covid/. Please have a look and let us know if you need any further clarification.
Aloha.
So sad. Eat healthy. Take your vitamins. Let your immune system do its job… and lets get on with life. Stop watching mainstream media and dig deeper people
Aloha
We are booked to Kauai in 2 weeks. The local Walgreens has 3 tests. Which one does Kauai accept?
They have PCR, Rapid Diagnostic, and Rapid Antigen Test.
Thank you for any info on this.
Hi James.
The antigen test is not accepted. You can also confirm with the state’s Safe Travels Hawai‘i Program Service Desk toll-free at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.
Aloha.
James H.,
We used Walgreens and they were easy and fast to work with. The test we used was the one with the “Red” dot on the web page. The window opened about 3 1/2 days to make the reservation. I would play with your computer and get familiar with the process and the lead time. We got tested and 10:15 AM and had the results before noon and they uploaded fine. It made travel a bit faster, but did not negate the need for quarantine. We felt it safer to have the test and know we were unlikely to bring anything here to Kauai. We put our insurance information into the Walgreens sign up page and there was no charge. You will want to review the quarantine rules. Good Luck, Emerson K. From Kauai
But virus’ are not usually shed by simply sitting in your nose, it is shed when u become sick, and this may take more than 3 days. I personally wish that those who have taken the vaccine and wear a mask would be allowed to travel. Or just do the test at the airport for $50,or something reasonable. United’s $250 a test makes me never want to fly with them again. Hard to respect a company making loads of money off a pandemic by jacking up the price so much. However a test, a shot, n a mask,n u are good to go. They are worried the test will make flying cost prohitive, but have u seen how low the prices are in Europe for intercontinental travel? Why not here in the US? JUST LOWER THE PRICES OF FLIGHTS HERE then it won’t be an issue. And being on a plane is quit different than being in a grocery store obviously. So that’s not a good point. And the potential for getting COVID on a plane is extremely high. All though, I do know some people who have gotten it in a grocery store. IMHO.
I respectfully disagree. The airlines are not making a ton of money during the pandemic. In fact, they are losing a ton of money during the pandemic. The fee charged has somewhat of a convenience fee to it and I bet your chances are significantly higher you will get your results timely. With respect to catching Covid on a plane, where is your data? I would agree that a year ago, your statement may have been accurate. However, since then, the airlines have invested a lot of money in air filtration systems and extra cleaning between flights. In fact, CNN reported last fall your chances are 1 in 4300 you will get Covid flying without a mask and 1 in 7000 with a mask. Mahalo.
“And the potential for getting COVID on a plane is extremely high.”
You have any proof of this statement? Or is it just made up in your mind? I’ve not heard of ay outbreaks on US airlines, but I personally know an entire family that got it from their kid who works in a grocery store. I’ve flown several times since last March. Planes half empty, the cabin air is constantly circulated with outside air. I’m not one of the people who sits around fearing this virus, but if I was, airline cabin would be way down the “scary” list from grocery store. Tens of thousands of people fly everyday. If the potential for getting COVID on a plane was actually extremely high, it would be huge news.
Everyone traveling to Hawaii should be tested within 72 hours of travel. No test, no travel. Without it, asymptomatic person could get on the plane and infect passengers there, or after deplaning while standing next to others in line waiting to verify negative test results. If all on the plane were verified negative prior to travel, this chance of contamination and time spent after deplaning would be almost eliminated. All the resources on setting up, maintaining those checking stations, and hiring personnel to collect and store data at arrival in Hawaii could be used to expand pre-testing capabilities instead.
I have no issue getting a test before traveling if it would allow us the opportunity to not have to quarantine upon arrival. Restort bubbles are too expensive and put my family at risk because others there may not have been staying safe. There needs to be an expanded approved list of tes sites for this to occur.
Also with the vaccinations moving forward couldvthe vaccine passport work instead or or in addition to testing so we don’t have to quarantine.
What happens to those that have received the COVID 19 vaccines (1st and 2nd dose)? How are they treated?
So you test 72 hours before you trip/plane trip and you are negative. But you you were exposed the day you tested…your test would be negative. Well then you become positive in flight or even after you arrive at your destination. This is another ridiculous idea the CDC has. This process has no merit or benefit to anyone. Apparently the CDC is full of people who have forgotten all they learned about infectious disease process. Please can we get real medical personnel to run the CDC.
I thought about that too. If someone doesn’t almost quarantine themselves during those 3 days till they get on the plane, there’s still a risk of them contracting it and bringing it with them. Although the risks of that happening is there, it greatly reduces the chances of infected people coming to Hawaii because they don’t test themselves. I’m curious to know what suggestions are there thats better than the pre-travel testing? Maybe our collective minds can provide a solution?
But the virus isn’t shed simply sitting in your nose, it is shed when u become sick, and this may take more than 3 days. I personally wish that those who have taken the vaccine and wear a mask would be allowed to travel. Or just do the test at the airport for $50,or something reasonable. United’s $250 a test makes me never want to fly with them again. Hard to respect a company making loads of money off a pandemic by jacking up the price so much. However a test, a shot, n a mask,n u are good to go. They are worried the test will make flying cost prohitive, but have u seen how low the prices are in Europe for intercontinental travel? Why not here in the US? Just Lower The Prices Of Flights Here then it won’t be an issue. And being on a plane is quit different than being in a grocery store obviously. So that’s not a good point. And the potential for getting COVID on a plane is extremely high. All though, I do know some people who have gotten it in a grocery store.
Well Bonnie,
Virtually all modern airlines have as good of a hepa-filtration system as any hospital operating room.
Every product in a grocery store is touched by multiple people, from packing to distribution, to consumers, to checkout, before you get it home.
You Have greater odds of getting Covid in a grocery store than on an airplane. More research and less non-factual opinion, please. Seek the harvard study, and many other scientific studies…
fox2now.com/news/new-study-says-people-are-at-higher-risk-for-contracting-covid-19-at-the-grocery-store-than-on-an-airplane/
travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Harvard-Covid-risk-on-planes-lower-than-grocery
Forcing everyone to be tested to fly is a step away from freedom in America and will not help the airline industry. What’s next? Where does it stop?
To even have a prayer of making this work, they would need to have 15 rapid tests at each gate. Can you imagine having to flying several times a week for your job? What about the flight crews? What if you have a family emergency and need to get on a flight same day?
To compound this problem, there is a lot of documentation about these tests not being accurate and giving false positive results. This is coming from the companies who designed the tests, from the medical community, and from individual people who have tested positive, then negative.
It seems the reason international testing has been accepted is so people could start coming and going from other countries into or out of the US. We are already in the US.
Worth noting, the ACIP of the CDC said this week “in most cases individuals who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine do not need to quarantine once two weeks have passed after the second dose. Hopefully, the CDC takes a stance on vaccines soon and publishes that. I understand not everyone wants one or can get one. It should be your choice and you should not be penalized if you decide against it.
The information about COVID-19 has been vastly miscommunicated to the public by the media (BOH exempt!). As an earlier post stated, there is a small chance of death. If you are in a high risk category, flying among other things right now is probably not a good choice. Until this virus stops being politicized, no one will know the truth.
Hi Cynthia.
Thanks for sharing those points and for all of your comments.
Aloha.
I disagree with your assessment of her comments.
I agree with the BOH assessment and Cynthia’s closing comments.
After numerous previous crises in our country like Pearl Harbor and 911, we pulled together for the common good and came out better as a nation. As soon as this virus was politicized, it became a free-for-all and we’re all worse off for it.
I would much rather see them put all their energy into the vaccine program. Yesterday I watched Lt Gov Josh Green’s 30 min video, very informative.
Aloha Guys
Hi Roy.
Thanks for the input.
Aloha.
I believe that testing is important. According to studies, flying is supposed to be safe for the non transmittal of the virus. Example I’m a returning resident to conduct business for 3 weeks on Hawaii island. I have 500% been masking using sanitizing, spraying shoes after going to market along with my family.
I planned a flight through Hawaiian with their testing locally. I have had no symptoms of anything no cold nor this virus and was shocked that it tested and detected positive!
That blew everything out of the water for me. Concerned because my husband has an underlying Med condition
He tested, my son tested and I tested again less than 24 hrs later through local health dept, same test as Hawaiian airlines gives, NAAT RT PCR- all negative. I had to cancel flight arrangements in Hawaii, I isolated for 10 days.
Never any symptoms ever! Now made arrangements again for business. That’s the question do I bare the expensive of a test again to find out I’m positive and bare even more expensive for the trip? Or do I just forego and isolate in my home for 10 days which I have no issue doing ? That’s the question?
I would think you had a false positive. That is the stress of testing healthy people. Some tests are not 100 percent.
Yup totally didn’t make sense . I was a good girl and isolated anyway prepared for oncoming of symptoms that never came. I took my temp 3-4 times a day and bought an oxygen level reader as well. So apprehensive at this point taking another test because from what I understand those that were infected with the virus, if mine was in fact a good test, can test positive up to 90 days!! I really don’t think that they have this down pat and believe my swab was compromised in some way didn’t make sense especially after testing negative with my local health dept!!!
Covid Testing: 2-14% False Positives, 8-20% False Negatives (in patients with/without symptoms), but both are within the allowable limits of testing. Why isn’t Hawaii at the forefront of getting a “Vaccinated Passport” approved for travel, and forego all of this? Vacinnation itself increases your risk of having a false positive if it an antigen test.
Exactly Jared. So you can have a false positive and lose out on a lot of money you paid for lodging in Hawaii or on the Mainland. Or you can have a false negative and still might get other people sick around you. In the meantime, more people will become unemployed or have their business go bankrupt. Instead of this, the government should focus on getting more people vaccinated and mask reinforcement (even with fines if necessary) at airports and on airplanes. Masks and social distancing still work.
If you think everyone would be “safe” if they all were pre-tested, you’re being naive. Anything could happen in the 72 intervening hours after receiving a negative test result and boarding the aircraft. You think you’re safe sitting next to someone, but that stranger could have been exposed to hundreds of people since he received his negative result, as could you. Unless everyone agrees to self-quarantine for 72 hours immediately upon being tested (which would be impossible unless you are tested in your own home), your risk of infection is no different than the day before you tested
And if you think mandatory testing is necessary when traveling from some other state to Hawaii, by rights there should also be mandatory testing to return to your home state after being in Hawaii, right? So now we’re talking about mandatory testing in both directions (assuming most people will take a vacation longer than 72 hours).
What about people that travel on a weekly or periodic basis for business reasons? Are we expecting that these people will take multiple tests per month or quarter? Yuck!
I agree with SWA’s CEO: air filtration systems and sanitation processes on aircraft are far better than your average Wal-mart or Safeway.
This is yet another ill-conceived government plan that will have far-reaching undesired side-effects, cost billions of dollars and not really improve the situation, at least in a measurability perspective. Before going all-out and requiring mandatory testing for all flights (remember, that means BOTH WAYS!!), how about we do some data collection to find out how many people contract Covid as a direct result of air travel? Let’s get a baseline of metrics, at the very least, so that when we spend billions of dollars, we’ll at least know whether this plan actually does anything.
What’s that people keep telling us? “Follow the science”. Yeah, let’s follow scientific principals and use metrics and analysis. Otherwise, it’s just another wild stab in the dark.
Well put…I totally agree
I read a few months ago in a story from CNN that if you go on a flight unmasked, your chance you will catch Covid is 1 in 4300. If you wear a mask, 1 in 7000. I agree, this sounds like overkill to me. Let us see the data that shows airplanes are a cesspool for Covid. Mahalo.
Jerry,
That’s the most intelligent analysis, I’ve read on this topic.
The CDC Director, is absolutely clueless, and there is no way they could implement this stupidity in any reasonable timeframe.
Hell the way the Administration is talking everyone who wants it will be vaccinated by summer. Half the country, or more would be vaccinated by the time they get this studied and implemented properly.
The utter ignorance in Government is disturbing. How stupid do they think we are.
What a perfect way to put the final nail in the coffin of an already critically ill airline industry. Just who would be responsible for the cost of these mandatory tests? What happens to those travelers who need to make emergency trips to be with a loved one or the mechanic who is called upon to fly to another state to deliver a critical product or part for any industry. (We see these kind of people on flights all the time). Last minute trips happen for any number of reasons. The only way something like this could possibly work would be instant testing at the airport, but then what happens if someone tests positive who just paid $1000 for a ticket? Is the airline expected to refund that money and will they get reimbursed by the Federal Gov. since they are the ones requiring these mandatory tests? The consequences of this obviously have not been thought through, just like most of the other policies the CDC and other government agencies put forth. As for how this affects Hawaii travel….it would be the same as anywhere else in the US, I would assume. You fly anywhere you will test. Those trips to see Auntie on another island better not be spur of the moment and you best plan on the cost of 2 tests…going and returning home. I believe it would also do further damage to the tourist industry and those who like to experience multiple islands while there. I swear, it sounds like the CDC has Gov. Ige at the helm. Whatever happens now…whatever jobs are lost if this becomes policy….the new administration will have to own it, but hey…what is several thousand more jobs lost with at swish of a pen ?
This won’t happen anytime soon. The impact to testing capacity would be too significant before the summer.
After all are given the chance to get the vaccine in the summer, though, we should see this sort of testing requirement for anyone that’s not already vaccinated. This will *help* Hawaii’s tourism industry, as it will ensure that Hawaii can maintain a zero-covid state (and thus be attractive to travelers) without spending endless resources in quarantine enforcement.
I’d personally feel safer flying with a plane load of passengers that show that they have been vaccinated for covid19. Of course I am aware that there are many who will and have refused to get the vaccine. I am booked for October and doing everything I can, including getting vaccinated, to be safe and to keep safe so that I can visit the islands again without fear.
Please be aware that even vaccinated people can still contract and spread Covid-19.
Please state your source.
Moderna, Pfizer, CDC.
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are 95 and 96% effective, 2-3 weeks after your second vaccination dose. That means 4-5% of vaccinated people can still contract the virus. Only a certain percentage of those who contract the virus will have symptoms, and the rest are asymptomatic carriers. This is the most likely population to spread the virus in the general public, and also to members of their own circle (family, co-workers, etc). We need herd immunity to protect us from the asymptomatic spreaders, and vaccination is the best bet.
I’d rather sit in a plane with 100% of passengers & crew vaccinated with about a 5% chance of getting COVID-19 on a much less serious level than with passengers only testing negative (also not 100% accurate) and without proof of quarantine. There is no proof, yet, whether or not you can transmit it if exposed while vaccinated — like asymptomatic people have done unknowingly. No one is saying you CAN 100% transmit it after vaccination. Let’s try to think more positive & get to that 70-80% vaccination level in the USA before deciding that it’s no better than testing for COVID-19.
(tony) What about returning home would testing by mandatory both ways…
Of course it will be…and what about any layovers that carry you over the 72 hour mark? This would be a nightmare if implemented
Hawaii’s requirement for testing before entering the state has already proved difficult to achieve in many cases. Consider what the CDC’s domestic flight policy would do, all over the US. Double that cost, frustration, and worry because every return flight also requires testing. It’s no doubt easier to find testing when you’re at home and familiar with local resources. How will that work for out-of-towners looking to test for their return flight? Exempting vaccinated passengers from testing would go a long way towards smoothing the process. Sure looks like air travel will be depressed for quite awhile. 🙁 Can’t wait til this all clears up and we can return to Hawaii.