During a briefing this morning, Hawaii’s governor said he will now extend the 14-day mandatory isolation through at least August 31, putting the kibosh on Hawaii travel. That comes as the pre-travel testing program that Hawaii had planned has collapsed, and will not be occurring anytime soon. Reopening was originally slated starting August 1 with no 14-day isolation required for those testing within 72 hours before travel. There’s a lot more to this, so please read on.
Wait times for test results have dramatically increased.
Our Beat of Hawaii commentors called this before, and now it is in the national news. CVS is reportedly taking multiple times longer than originally promised for test results. Ironically, if they take any longer than they are now, it may exceed the 14-day isolation period, so that these test results could become entirely meaningless. California’s governor said, “Because of backlogs with Quest and others we’re experiencing multiday delays.”
We have heard that some locations have purchased rapid test machines that do not rely on the same supplies that are in short order or have secured additional lab supplies. It isn’t clear what Hawaii has done in such regards.
Hawaii’s CVS testing partnership failed before it even started.
As recently as a week ago, Hawaii’s health director Bruce Anderson touted the relationship with CVS as the white night that would result in timely travel tests via their 1,400+ locations. That was unquestionably the most critical aspect of Hawaii’s reopening plans. Since then, however, CVS is reporting multi-day to multi-week delays in returning results.
CVS’s spokesperson Charlie Rice-Minoso said there is currently a wait of five to seven days for test results. “As demand for tests has increased, we’ve seen test result turnaround times vary due to temporary processing capacity limitations in our lab partners, which they are working to address.” Others are telling us that five to seven days is on the optimistic side at this time, however. Giant testing lab partner Quest Diagnostics said, “Quest is doing everything it can to add testing capacity to reduce turnaround times.”
US Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir, who is responsible for the US testing system said, “The nation’s testing system is nearing limits and commercial labs are taking longer to complete non-emergency C0VID tests… I’m not saying it’s at a max now, but we’re certainly pushing the frontiers.”
Did Hawaii see this coming?
It looks like the state did not. In Alaska’s example, there are multiple options as seen in the image below to accomplish travel testing. Even then, however, these are not guaranteed and we suspect they are having significant problems. For example, they are suggesting you do a test at home 72 hours before travel, and yet Alaska’s test provider says there is a 4-6 day delay in obtaining results. Oops.
Will waiting help Hawaii’s situation?
We’re just not sure that changing the date will make any difference. The reason is that there is no guarantee or even likelihood that there will be adequate testing available in California and elsewhere in the near future. That given the rapid increase in cases and the need for more testing. It is painfully obvious that travel testing will be taking a back seat here to those of medical necessity.
If the situation isn’t confusing enough, the State via its tourism site as of today still says that to avoid the 14-day isolation period, visitors will need to obtain results from an FDA-approved test from a CLIA-certified laboratory. That is the third time their stated requirements have changed in the past week. First, it said PCR test, and then it was changed to the NAAT test. There have never been any follow-up details offered, such as: from what age will children be tested, how long the pre-arrival testing requirement and quarantine process will be in effect, whether this only applies to travel from the mainland United States or does it also apply to travel from other countries, and how this affects residents returning to Hawaii.
Other problems with pre-travel testing are getting worse by the day.
1. How will pre-travel testing work for travelers who have stops en route from places that require connections and even stopovers?
That remains unclear.
2. When visitors unexpectedly don’t have the required test results on arrival, or if their test comes back positive, what will happen to them?
Will they be returned to the mainland, and if so at whose expense? Visitors who normally stay about a week aren’t going to be going into 14-day isolation, but perhaps a brief period (hours not days) until test results are returned might be possible.
3. Will any refunds be available should things go awry?
The major airline trade organization announced that its members will “refund tickets for any passenger who is found to have an elevated temperature—as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines—during a screening process conducted by federal authorities prior to travel.” That having been said, however, there is no provision for what happens when someone tests positive on either pre-departure or arrival testing. We are hearing that trip insurance could help, although that should be verified before purchasing coverage.
4. What are the costs associated with tests, and who will pay for it?
The governor has said that tests will be paid for by travelers and might be as high as $160 per person, which we believe is excessive and creates yet another roadblock to tourism. Could some of the costs be subsidized?
On-arrival testing being offered in Alaska, London, Frankfurt, and Iceland.
London’s Heathrow Airport will offer an example of new on-arrival, saliva-based testing. This means passengers can be checked for C0VID after landing at Heathrow and will know within 24 hours their test results. Passengers will go to their place of isolation until results are obtained. The estimated cost is $187.
Germany also announced on-arrival testing at extremely busy Frankfurt Airport via private-sector partner Centogene. For a fee of 59€ to 139€, tests results are returned within two to eight hours. Currently, 380 tests per hour can be processed at FRA. The airport also accepts pre-departure testing which will lessen the burden on arrival testing.
Iceland allows for on-arrival testing at airports. The cost is $65, which is being subsidized, and children under fifteen do not require testing. Test results are said to take no more than five hours.
Alaska provides an on-arrival test option too. The timely availability of results, however, is of great concern. The majority of travelers are testing one way or the other, before departure on arrival. About one-third of Alaska arrivals have already tested before departure and provide results at the airport, while more than one-third more obtain free tests on arrival.
Options for on-arrival Hawaii tests.
Hawaii’s’ governor said recently that those who do not have their results on arrival will be in isolation until they obtain negative test results. In that comment, the door was opened to the need for more Hawaii testing options. Yet, the state continues to say that there will be no on-arrival testing. So just what does that mean? To us, it means that arrival testing will be provided not by the state, but perhaps by private-sector testing partners.
On-arrival testing has its own set of issues, since visitors will need to enter isolation until they obtain results. How that will be supervised here in Hawaii is anyone’s guess.
Private testing partners.
As the government moves out of testing and private vendors move in, Hawaii first partnered with CVS and will undoubtedly try to add others in their traveler testing program. There is the possibility that the federal or state government may provide some reimbursement for test costs, but we have heard nothing about that.
We look forward to reading your comments!
Revised 7/13/20.
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John T says
So the CVS test is listed as a PCR test. Does this qualify as the NAAT test?
Also this 72-hour window…is that for the time of the test, or the results? If I know that it will take a week for the results from my local lab, I can time it so I receive the results and then fly to HNL, but it sounds like this isn’t good enough as my test would’ve been 5 days old, instead of the 3 days listed. Trying to plan a honeymoon in Hawaii as covid ruined our plans for Fiji and this is one of the hurdles I’m trying to overcome.
Chandra C says
From what I understand its 72 hours from when you land…so if you land Sunday you cant test any earlier than Thursday. We are having the same issue 🙁
Cf says
I love these articles. I just dont see hawaii coming out of all this crap for atleast a decade.
Continuing on the path of destroying the economy and ruining tourism during the pandemic is clearly not the way to go. Trying to force people to wear masks and quarantine is also not the way to go. This virus will most likely infect most people before a vaccine is even available. And even then most dont want the vaccine, according to new polls taken
Making travel bubbles is a very short term stupid and illegal move to make also. No one wants to put up with this non patriotic crap. Why is hawaii being so wimpy and passive aggressive?
James B says
If you’re going to make your opinion heard, it would be helpful to have facts on your side. In Hawaii, people wear masks out of respect for others. There is a mandatory order, but I’ve lived here for twenty years, and the words “ohana” (extended family), “kuleana” (responsibility) and “pono” (doing what’s right) have a real, deep reality, much like the kind of household I grew up in the 50’s. Most Hawaiians care about each other, especially the kupuna (elders). THAT’s why mask wearing is almost 100%.
If you mean that we will reach the elusive herd immunity before a vaccine, we have a ways to go. Even with the highest infection rate in the world, 5 million is a drop in the bucket, and herd immunity is tentatively reached at 70% infected. And that depends on how long lived are the antibodies.
The vax deniers are estimated to amount to ~20% of the adult population, far from “most people”.
Travel bubbles do in fact make sense. Please turn around your last sentence and it makes more sense. Instead of asking “why is Hawaii being so wimpy and passive aggressive”, please ask why are there so many mainlanders who won’t even listen to health professionals or their own common sense. Masks in public, especially enclosed places, social distancing, and yes travel bubbles stem the spread of the virus rather than what happened in the recent holiday periods, mass parties and complete disregard for one’s neighbor.
As for patriotism and illegalaties, isn’t it more patriotic to join forces in wartime and cooperate to win that war? And the courts just ruled on a lawsuit alleging that the 14-day quarantine is fully within the purview of the Governor.
Finally, there is a reason that most countries are now closing their doors on Americans who wish to travel. Please ask yourself, why. Hawaii will be just fine after we emerge with some sense of normality. I wish and hope that the rest of the states survive…literally.
I doubt that any of these responses to your post will have any effect on your opinion, but at least those contributing to this thread can weigh my thoughts against your opinion and decide which seems more rational.
GaryB says
Aloha,
Darn those tourists ot masking up forcing the closure of Polihale indefinitely.
“Specific illegal activities listed include numerous complaints about large gatherings and a lack of social distancing, despite emergency orders, widespread defecation within the fragile dune system, and trucks racing on the beach and driving through the dunes.
DLNR also pointed out a recent weekend during which more than 1,000 people were camped in the state park, with only 80 legally permitted.”
Paul C says
LOL hardly the ONLY state and people who are doing this. Florida police had to break up a 700 to 1000 person party complete with music etc. It took them five hours to clear the party. So STOP crapping on Hawaiians as though they are the only ones doing this.
Walker W says
They seem to be the only ones that think their pupus dont stink.
Tim m says
Just saw this today July 29 on CNBC website about testing delays, looks like good news,” With the new FDA authorization, Quest said it expects “to achieve average turnaround times of 1 day for “Priority 1″ patients and 2-3 days for all other patients in coming weeks.”
Patty T says
Just got here yesterday (Honolulu) 14 day stay in but that’s ok. At sons place. Plane half full, mostly locals. I have a feeling the 14 day quarantine will still be in effect in Sept and on. They are pretty strict about this here and cases are rising all over the mainland as well as here. I could be wrong but prob not.
Janie H. says
I’m planning on coming to Hawaii September 5-15, when should I try to get my test?? September 1st, so I’ll have the results by September 5? Frustrated as we all are..if I don’t have the results do I have to sit at the airport until I get them?
GaryB says
I’m just holding on in hope they get something solidified. All now is conjecture. Doubt that any test taken will come back with results within they projected time frame. Just won’t happen.
Patty T says
Just got here yesterday (Honolulu) 14 day stay in but that’s ok. At sons place. Plane half full, mostly locals. I have a feeling the 14 day quarantine will still be in effect in Sept and on. They are pretty strict about this here and cases are rising all over the mainland as well as here. I could be wrong but prob not.
Deb P says
This still seems to be a TRAVEL Nightmare for those of US who preplanned our Trips LONG in Advance!.Does not appear to have Clear Answers as to Actually WHERE you can get a TEST that you can get the RESULTS in 72 hours before you FLY. For example if you are Tested on a Thursday and are due to FLY the Following Sunday, Its seems unlikely you can get the Test RESULTS in afformentioned allowed time?
Chandra C says
We have the same issue. We are scheduled for November…We land Sunday afternoon which means we can’t get tested any earlier than Thursday morning. Do they give test results on the weekend? If not am I able to still get my rental car and go to my condo until Monday when I would hope they would be available?
Mark S. says
The distinctive about “being played” is that you are not aware of it when it occurs. Do your homework and look at what else is being learned about this virus around the world instead of only watching main stream media.
IF this medical and media frenzy continues until November 3rd, it will be over the day after.
Hawaii is “being played”.
Paul says
Tell that to my two friends families who have had their kids die of covid you jerk. This HAS NOTHING to do with an election or anything else. Everything is NOT a conspiracy to take out your dear leader good grief.
Ron O says
Paul,
Good grief is right! Goodness not everything is a conspiracy theory. Facts are facts, and people are dying because of Covid, and ignorant people don’t want to look at it until they or a loved one get it.
Hawaii is right about being cautious.
Paul C says
I am beyond Good grief at this point. The eastern part of oregon right now is blowing up with Covid cases because the morons refuse to wear masks. Some had big covid parties trying intentionally to get it! ARGH
Bob A says
Unless you have an underlying health condition. There is a 99.08% chance you will not feel sick from CV-19.
Those terrified of CV-19 and those in power closing down states and cities are actually causing more death and destruction than CV-19 ever could.
The experts are saying in America alone there will be hundreds of thousands of suicides attributed to CV-19.
There will be millions of cases of domestic abuse and alcoholism attributed to CV-19 and there will be millions more losing their homes and businesses.
Time to put on the big boy pants and think like adults. Back to work, back to school. Back to the American way of life.
Paul C says
Just stop already this is not a conspiracy set out to take Trump down; for god sakes it’s worldwide man. 150,000 US citizens have now died. 80,000 in the hospital now with it. The american way of life? Oh yeah selfish you worried ONLY about yourself no oneelse. I have had TWO personal friends in their 30s die from this and three more in the hospital currently 1 recovered but his lung capacity is severely incapacitated and will NEVER get that back so STOP already sheesh.
WM says
I couldn’t agree with you more. Some how we need to take back our freedoms and rights and move on!!
James B says
Since this is an information site, I try to refrain from overtly political musings, as if anyone knows the real results, long term, of contracting CV-19. But this post exposes gross negligence in trying to explain something using right wing talking points. I’ll simply point to what is actually happening on the U.S. mainland:
Texas, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, California and a host of other mostly southern and midwestern states did in fact “put on their big boy pants” around the Memorial and July 4th holidays. Largely because of the content of this post and other “facts”, people adopted your what, me worry? attitude. Now FL, TX, AZ, and CA are dealing with a new surge that is putting once again on medical personnel and hospital capacity. In Houston three hospitals are sending the sickest patients home to die so that they can make room for the treatable patients.
There is a reason that U.S. citizens cannot travel to any European country and now most of the Caribbean. Some countries have managed the spread by people following safety guidelines and admittedly extreme government actions (total lock downs). We had the chance to follow their lead and chose to party instead.
Bob A says
In the state of California (40 MILLION) we have had ZERO kids die of Covid 19. That is ZERO Paul so take a breath. Now if you say “kids” like in their “30-90’s” with underlying health conditions I understand.
Hawaii is taking a huge financial risk of losing tourists forever. It seems for decades Hawaii was part of the United States of America and US Citizens could travel freely, but now it seems Hawaii does not care about tourists and their own financial future.
Paul C says
Still blaming Hawaii. They are taking a HUGE risk the islands residents become overcome with the virus. Do you care about anyone but yourself? PS I have 2 dead friends ZERO underlying conditions from covid. Three more currently in the hospital only ONE with underlying conditions and one who has recovered but his lung capacity is 50% of what it used to be and doctors tell him that he will live with this for the rest of his life.
Debby A. says
Yes…we all are being played. There are medications for complete recovery. This is completely devastating to economics and suicide mortality rate is 4 times higher than covid deaths!
James B says
YIKES! It seems that once again I am put in the unenviable position of fact checking. Please understand that there are NO “cures” (complete recovery)for this unique coronavirus. It has killed at least 150K of your citizen neighbors. The daily death rate indicates that the final death tally could be hundreds of thousands (Fauci, Johns Hopkins, and Washington state sources to name a few).
Roughly 146,000 people have died from COVID or COVID-related causes in the U.S., according to CDC data.
The most recent publicized federal data records 48,000 deaths from suicide and at least 1.4 million attempts in 2018.
Please don’t parrot right wing talking points when trying to make your points.
Paul C says
stop with your conspiracy [edited].
Chris B. says
I try to visit Kauai every winter from Indiana. Last winter I stayed at a great VRBO up on the north side. I don’t understand why the quarantine has to be in a hotel room. Why couldn’t I go to that VRBO, have food delivered and just go to the beach? I live near the Lake Michigan beach and it has saved my sanity to get outside here at the beach. Outside, especially with a breeze, there is almost zero chance of spreading the virus. Serious question. I hope someone has an answer. Being in a hotel room would be like being in prison.
Cathy R says
You can’t go to the beach…you can’t leave the property. The police and national guard make periodic checks and you can be arrested if you leave your place of quarantine. Some people have stated that they have even been told quarantined individuals they can not be on their front lanai outside. But get this…if you are staying with someone who isn’t quarantining they don’t have to quarantine and can go about the community. Total hypocrisy. Being outside is healthier for everyone, but they are saying you have to be confined for 14 days?! I understand protecting the community but this is way too much government control. Get the testing plan figured out and protect the vulnerable – don’t quarantine the healthy.
James B says
My adult children just went through the quarantine period so I need to correct two of your statements. First, look at the Governor’s directives and they clearly state that the lanai is considered part of the house. As for quarantining with someone who is already in Hawaii, the distinction is that you must quarantine in a separate part of the house and have no contact with the housemates until the 14 days end. That was true for my daughter on Maui who offered her lower level to a friend for quarantine. Same house, different levels with separate entrances. That’s the difference.
Cf says
Im just hoping that all this mishandling of the hawaii virus situation backfires on the hawaii goverment. I hope some people with no symptoms slip through and locals will then feel positive towards usa visitors when lots of people get sick again on the island in the fall. Everything will need to reopen eventually
Paul C says
WOW YOU HOPE some slip by WOW.
Cheryl C says
This is the clearest explanation I have seen, thank you for the help understanding this. My question I haven’t found the answer to is this – if we were planning to stay 4 to 6 weeks, are there rentals available since I know short term rentals were shut down for a while. I know we would be isolated for 14 days. Are grocery stores and restaurants making deliveries? I realize that our trip probably isn’t feasible and I am clutching at straws right now, but hope springs eternal. I appreciate any knowledge or understanding you can pass along. If there is just no way right now, a simple answer of “No, you crazy woman, stay home” would work and would sav3 you time! Mahalo.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Cheryl.
From other comments, there may be deliveries available on all the islands, but let us know where you’re headed and we’ll try to help more. As far as we know, you need to have the quarantine period take place in a hotel, but again, check that too. It might work if you can just get through the first two weeks locked indoors.
Aloha.
GaryB says
Aloha Cheryl,
I have a friend who just flew in and is staying at a rented condo for an extended stay. She is quarantined 14 days and can go as far as the lanai. No pool. No beach. Fortunately her daughter lives close and can shop for her but deliveries are available just as on the mainland.
Tim m says
Cvs is now telling people the results will be done in 5 to 7 days but the minute clinic website says 6 to 10 days for results , it appears testing capabilities In USA are not adequate for quick results . Obviously this won’t be a solution for Hawaii travelers as the state would require us to quar antine until results arrive .i hope there is a way to allow Hawaii to open but it will take government help and not sure if the Feds are up to it .
James B says
I believe that you just pegged the chink in the armor. If everyone would ask the logical question: how can it be that the richest, most powerful nation on the planet can’t achieve the same results as a host of other nations who have so far successfully squashed viral spread? Then ask how other countries’ populations have little problem with simple protective actions (masks, distance, limited trips for only essentials), but our country seems to base everything on political persuasion.
If you answered honestly, then the vitriol expressed by some towards Hawaii, its people and the Governor and Mayors might be better directed towards that lack of any national plan to contain the virus and tamp down the spread.
Tim m says
You hit the nail on the head , yes we have made a difficult situation worse by having no effective national coordinated response to fighting covid. It’s quite a sad situation in that covid has become a political debate and I know if I had cancer I would listen to doctors and not politicians for my care .
Kevin K. says
A couple months ago the Swedish epidemiologist Johan Giesecke said things that now look brilliantly prescient:
“You’ve painted yourself into a corner. I’m watching with interest how are you and 100 other countries will climb out of the lockdown, because I don’t think any government that I know gave a minute’s thought about how they would get out of their different lockdowns.” and “A lockdown might delay severe cases for a while, but once restrictions are eased, cases will reappear. … Measures to flatten the curve might have an effect, but a lockdown only pushes the severe cases into the future — it will not prevent them.”
Cf says
Yes kevin k my thoughts exactly. These countries that have done lockdowns have not helped anyone but themselves. They take care of thier own Jobs while subjecting the population to lack of sevices and medical housing and food. And take aeay thier jobs snd income and forcing them on welfare. People are dying in large numbers and greatly inconvenienced and the workd evonomy could easily collapse and kill billions over time. C0vid could kill only one rgird of one percent of 8 billion