One new test takes just one second while the FDA just gave another test emergency approval.
65 thoughts on “New Rapid Testing Key To Hawaii Travel”
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One new test takes just one second while the FDA just gave another test emergency approval.
Comments are closed.
Keeping my fingers crossed as we already rescheduled our Kauai trip twice, now hoping to travel in May. University of Illinois also developed their own saliva test. It is quick, inexpensive and reliable. They can test up to 20,000 students a day. There has to be a good solution before the entire economy collapses and people lose the roof from over their head. Mahalo for all the updates!
Hi Niki.
Thanks.
Aloha.
My wife and I have no problem getting on a plane to Hawaii. It’s the mobbed airports. That’s way more concerning than a plane. Aloha
Hi Tom.
Got it. Thanks.
Aloha.
Please read the latest Washington Post article on the saliva tests. Yes, they are easy and accurate, but still a PCR type test. That means one would still need a lab to process. Since the U.S. federal government has still not mandated testing as a priority, nor directed all labs under the Defense Production Act to make testing a priority, as I write a 72 nor 48 hour test is realistic.
Th best models for airport testing are Germany and Heathrow, and they are experiencing results issues as well.
This sounds promising. To answer you question about why there isn’t testing now: Even if Hawai’i could get access to 35,000 tests per day (which is how many visitors arrived every day last year at this time), according to the Hawaii health Department, we can only process 5,500 per day. As it stands, even if they could ramp up processing the tests, there is a shortage of tests nationwide, and it would be impossible to get enough to test everyone on arrival. Hopefully this new rapid test will be the answer.
The Yale test is still PCR. Removes the collection issues and major time consuming steps in the procedure. It will be a few hours instead of 6. Really antigen testing in kit form like flu tests is the way to go. Hawaii needs to get it together fast! If
Sorry. A PCR means that one needs a lab to process, and labs are deluged with those probable positives. Travel is not a priority, and your tests will go to the back of the line.
Hey…we can do here testing they say within 72 hours…ny….but what if labs they delay….i already postponed twice….spent first class tickets AA….getting alittle sick about the lack of structure for re entry….trying to help local economy at our own expense…we come every year. Need a point of no return for november flight. God speed to all…..
I’ve been following the developments in rapid testing for a while now. What I don’t understand is Hawaii’s reluctance to embrace ANY kind of testing for travelers coming to the islands. They’ve certainly had the time and the federal government has provided hundreds of millions of dollars but we’re still without a solution as the economy continues to decay.
We all want to be safe and keep the Hawaiian population safe as well. It appears that there are multiple ways available to do this, yet there is no discernible action or plan from the State of Hawaii. How long must this continue?
JJ. Please read my post when moderated for an explanation. Also, in the article on BOH, they noted travel testing is not a priority for labs.
James B: The point is that Hawaii has made no effort to create its own, on-island lab capacity for testing – none. While I understand that mainland labs do consider travel testing to be a priority, the crushing economic damage to Hawaii due to lack of tourism makes travel testing essential here in Hawaii.
I have a difficult time understanding how Hawaii could be so far behind the curve with the time and money that they’ve had to address this issue. They are no closer to a solution today than they were 6 months ago when this all began.
Not only is there no apparent leadership capability in Hawaii state government, there is no management capability either. Add in a total lack of accountability and you have the disaster you see before you now.
Ok JJ what other state has? And be specific? I am in Oregon we cannot get tested unless we show signs. There is currently no travel test that can be done. same with WA CA from what I hear? So stop crapping on The Hawaiian government no one else has a system either
Paul C: Oregon’s economy isn’t 35% dependent on tourism. Hawaii’s is and the economy is dying rapidly. What we’re seeing today is only the tip of the iceberg. Estimates by UofH are saying that less than 50% of the closed businesses will manage to reopen. Their most recent study is pointing to 2029 for hotels to fully recover. There is a health emergency in Hawaii as there is elsewhere. There’s also an economic emergency that is being ignored. Hawaii has already borrowed billions of dollars that have to be repaid in 2 years. I don’t see how that will be possible with a collapsed economy.
The government that I’m “crapping on” has mismanaged this crisis from day 1. There have been no additional temporary medical facilities set up to handle hospital overflow that is getting ready to happen. Keep in mind they’ve had 6 months to address this.
They trained 4,000 contact tracers and only hired a small fraction of them. They were unable to keep up and the result is what we see today. The DOH now says its too late now for contact tracing to be effective. Rules change daily and by island. There is no actual plan to reopen the economy.
It sounds like Hawaii is being managed about as well as downtown Portland.
D e f e n s e P r o d u c t I o n A c t. I spelled it out because Governors have been in a bidding war for test materials, space, PPE, you name it. Why blame Hawaii when your federal government dismissed any responsibility for managing a national crisis?
Remember this phrase every time anyone begins to wonder,”What’s wrong with the leaders in Hawaii?” They reactive vs. proactive. Sums it up in a nutshell.
Totally agree. Not a priority with the state, but (particularly on Oahu) the parks are a mess, many of the roads are unusable, Filthy homeless people desecrate the beaches and sidewalks, abandoned cars litter the landscape, unemployment checks are delinquent. Should we really be surprised. In the meantime, those collecting paychecks are making decisions for those who are not, with no hope of tourism returning any time soon! Its a terrible shame!
Tahiti has it figured out. Here are all the details Governor Ige. Copy an Paste on Hawaii letterhead, inform the airlines and screeners at the airport, and let the economy begin to recover! Show some leadership and this doesnt have to wait till October. This could start next week.
Thanks, As someone who just returned from 11 days in Cancun, I don’t see this fear of flying you are speaking of. People are more upset about having nowhere to go once they get to a destination. Cancun was wonderful. The staff took the utmost care in cleaning and wearing masks. Social Distancing was observed and all of the tourists we spoke to had an amazing time. I so hope Hawaii can figure this out quickly. We cancelled 2 trips to Hawaii this year and thankfully found another wonderful beach destination.
I would never go to Cancun. There’s a reason it’s so cheap. Way too dangerous. You don’t see military snipers on hotel roofs in Hawaii.
But what happens if you test positive with this new test& can’t travel? Are there travel insurance comps that will cover this or will airlines& accommodations refund cost?
Really good question !
Most insurance companies are now excluding Covid 2 cover. Three reasons why Hawaii have slowed down their adoption of testing in place of quarantine. 1) Lack of CLIA testing stations who can provide testing and results within the required window, 2) Too many false results. Who is liable for your loss if you get a false positive and lose your money? Who is liable if you get a false negative and infect all the people in the cabin of your 8 hour flight? 3) Confusion between NAATD and PCR testing.
The industry needs to work with Governments around the world to agree which test, which time period, which standard to apply to testing locations and international acceptances of certificates. Anything else we be a disaster with travelers being sent back because UK tests are not valid in US or US test certificates are not valid in Japan for example.
Testing certificated and of the right type should be widely available at an affordable cost with a usable turn around speed. And the test reliability has to be sufficiently high to be effectove. No tests will ever be 100%.
To achieve uniformity and because it relates to interstate and international travel, it probably needs to be a federala program which each state having input on the program. For cost, availability of resources and implementability it has to work for Alaska as much as Florida, New York as much as Mississippi and Hawaii as much as Illinois.
Diane L: That is what concerns me. A vacation to Hawaii is not an easy undertaking for many and often is a Once in a lifetime trip. What happens if we fail the test 2 or 3 days prior to our flight? With everything up in the air – we certainly won’t be taking the gamble any time soon. Too many uncertainties. The loss would be too costly for the wallets of most. Sadly, many will move on to other sunny beaches. 😢
This is the most positive news i quite some time. I guess i will wait another week before i cancel my trip…
Might be wishful thinking.
I would think that the decision makers would find a way. The business owners/employers are the real victims.