103 thoughts on “With New $5 Abbott Test, Hawaii Travel Can Restart”
Colleen
All of this sounds promising. BUT, it does not even begin to address the problem of lost airline fares and Condo deposits, etc. if a person tests positive at the last moment before departure. What then?
Unless the Airlines and Hotels and especially condo owners step up with something that will keep us from losing lots of $$$ – I am still not interested. Seriously doubt travel insurance will cover this. Travel insurance is notorious for not coming through. :0(
Everything is just waaay too iffy and will probably stay that way for a long time. Just wait for the next round of lay offs. See how things go then. Thousands are set to be laid off in the airline industry alone. Everything is broken and no one has a fix. :0(
It will surprise me if things are still bad next summer 2021! Sorry to be such a pessimist. We will wait until Spring 2021 and see how things go. Too much time/energy/money to invest in a ‘not so fun’ Hawaiian vacation in quarantine or worse – cancelled at the very last moment by a positive test. :0(
Dave R
Most travel insurance explicitly excludes any “known” problem at the time you initially made your reservations, such as an approaching typhoon (or maybe even typhoon season), outbreak of disease, etc. For this reason, for our May 2020 trip, we initially were unable to get a refund from Alaska Air or any insurance compensation for our condo rental. What we did was this: we held off on cancelling, hoping that Alaska would cancel the flights first. When they did, they had to give us a refund. After that the insurance for the condo was pretty easy since Alaska had effectively cancelled our trip, not us.
Now we are going to wait until there’s a vaccine (if ever). Meanwhile, we’re re-learning how to enjoy the many nice things about where we live – right down to observing the antics of the mockingbirds looking for bugs in the back yard. Beauty is where you find it.
Paul C
you know this all about politics right? I would not for one second trust this test because it was pushed thru forced thru by TOP officials to try and make the incompetent american government look like they are doing something. How readily available will it be? NOPE I would not trust this test at all currently
TJ
To Paul C. The sky is not falling.! Yes, it is possible that something good for Hawaii could possibly happen, Not everything is bad and wrong. I’m challenging you to write something good and positive next time. Enough with the hate and mean spirited comments!
Mahal & Aloha!
TJ
Paul C
I will be more than happy to be positive when our potus and government start to take this seriously. Pushing for a miracle too quickly could kill countless others.
Fran G
You seem to have forgotten that a negative test result shows that you don’t have covid today. It doesn’t mean that you’re not incubating it. There’s a reason why quarantine lasts 14 days.
Iceland had allowed entry with one negative test and then started to get cases on their island from those who subsequently developed it. They’ve now introduced a second test on day 5 of quarantine. That should pick up about 85% of cases. But there’s still 5 days of quarantine and they’re still risking transmission on their island from those visiting.
The only game changer with this test is fast results which means contacts can be told to isolate sooner and stop the spread of the virus.
RIchJ
So the naysayers who want to maximize economic damage will point out how it is no good.
THey forget:
all current tests give false negatives and false positives
Quarantine does not prevent against asymptomatic who can be infectious 3-4 weeks after infection
Many people show symptoms before 3 weeks, many by three weeks but equally many take up to 4-5 weeks to show symptoms.
Many symptoms such as aches and fatigue are missed as jet lag.
So before the great campaign against making things better starts, let’s be real about where we are right now.
My question is how much will the clinic/ parmacy and Dr, Nurse, Pharmacist charge for administration? Can they trun it round in 48-72 hours and can they supply the certiciation that Hawaii (CLIA) Japan and others are asking for all test results? SOme want NAAT some want PCR, will we gget a global standard. Who is libale if a false positive causes someone to lose the flight? WHo is liable if a false negative infects a plane full of folks? Let us see the dtail. Unfortunately I am sure some folks in Hawaii will ensure they do well out of it.
Becky G
Asymptomatics are not driving this disease. Look at the extensive research done by contact tracers. Individuals can be trusted to manage their own health. Have you ever needed a test to tell you whether you’re sick or not? Symptoms come before diagnosis. Medical School 101.
So much suffering could be avoided if that simple common sense idea was remembered and embraced by all.
Dave R
Simple common sense includes accurate facts.
In fact, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers are a major spreader of COVID.
“CDC Estimate of Asymptomatic COVID-19 Carriers Increased to 40%. Asymptomatic coronavirus carriers, or those who do not experience any symptoms, unknowingly contribute to the spread of COVID-19, infectious disease experts say. Now the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance that raises the estimate of asymptomatic carriers to 40 percent of people who have COVID-19.
“The CDC had estimated that the chance of transmission of COVID-19 from asymptomatic people was 100 percent. But that figure has been revised downward this month to 75 percent. That means that the CDC now says asymptomatic individuals are less likely to transmit infection, compared to symptomatic individuals who have a 100 percent chance of transmission.”
75% is major.
“the CDC stated that researchers in Singapore identified seven clusters of cases in which presymptomatic transmission is the most likely explanation for the occurrence of secondary cases.
That report was backed up by a study Trusted Source published in mid-April that concluded that people with no symptoms are the source of 44 percent of diagnosed COVID-19 cases.”
44% is major.
It doesn’t sound like you went to med school or nursing school – or took “Medical School 101.”
Dave R
It is petty and needlessly insulting (not to mention totally off-the-wall wrong) to claim that “naysayers” “want to maximize economic damage.” Frankly I’m surprised that they allow this sort of vicious comment on the site.
Nancy
Aloha! Thanks for your good work guys! Thanks for some great news! Yes, Hawaii now needs people in charge who can properly handle this new situation. They are our elected officials. The current government has shown their inefficiency, at the expense of their citizens. Enough already. And sadly I heard Oahu compared to New Zealand or worse Melbourne Australia, as voting to implement new laws against citizen’s personal freedoms. Wake up Hawaii. Time for a change. Proactive not reactive! Together we can do this!
Dave R
Personal freedom…freedom to infect other people. Wonderful.
Why on earth would Hawai’i want to open up more, so that people who don’t care about others can come flooding in and overwhelm the health care ‘system’? The death rate in Hawai’i is still very low. Many people would prefer to keep it that way.
Not sure what you mean by “Oahu compared to New Zealand.” O’ahu has been very nice to visitors. In NZ they quarantine people in a facility with a fence around it. A police officer has been placed at all hotels, two-metre fences have been installed, and strict checks have been introduced for exemptions from isolation or quarantine. Violators are arrested and charged.
MargieP
“Beat of Hawaii: We cannot imagine that Hawaii will not be all over this test as the way to eliminate mandatory 14-day quarantine.”
Tsk … tsk … really? If it makes sense & puts Hawaii on level ground, you can be sure our elected officials will find a reason not to do it!
Joyce R.
Thank you for the positive news!!! I really hope this comes to life. My daughter started her freshman year and I couldn’t accompany her due to the quarantine restrictions. So I pray this happens so I can visit
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Joyce.
Thanks.
Aloha.
DebP
Thinking there is Hope for our Anniversary Trip in December. THANKS TO ABBOTT LABS.
James B
This is an antigen test which only shows the presence of antibodies. will that be enough to prove a negative status, since now at least one person who had CV-19 was reinfected?
Laurie S.
I just read an article in the Atlantic re: this test. It’s true that it is an antigen test. It is slightly less accurate than the gold standard PCR, but it is a game changer. This will allow rapid and frequent testing which is what is needed to move the economy.
I’d recommend reading the article.
Here we come Kauai (in May)
Stanley H
I’m sorry but you are wrong. This test has nothing to do with antibodies. Antibodies require a blood test. And antibodies only show you had COVID-19 at some time in the past. I have measles antibodies from 70 years ago.
At this time, antibody tests are a research tool to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines.
Antigen tests show if you have COVID in your upper respiratory tract.
There is a small chance you were exposed so recently that you have undetectable antigen levels.
However, a 97% chance of being COVID free is the best we can do.
However, a universal 14-day quarantine in prison is the most certain way to keep COVID out.
James B
This from the CDC. Antigen tests detect the proteins that generate an immune response:
“Antigen tests are designed to detect viral proteins — which, in the case of the coronavirus, would come from the spikes that coat the outside surface of the virus — that trigger an immune response in the body.”
So, you see, splitting hairs does make sense when the facts are on your side. Also, the sad truth of antigen tests vs. PCR. (CDC)
“But antigen testing is not as sensitive as PCR testing, which means there is a greater chance that antigen tests could deliver false negative results. In other words, a patient could be infected but an antigen test is just not sensitive enough to detect it.”
Stanley H
But the antigen test gives 97-98% accuracy in 15 min. PCR takes days and won’t meet any of the 72-hour windows. PCR is expensive and slow.
How much more accurate do we need testing to be?
PCR just can’t be scaled to 50 million a month or hundreds of millions a month.
And at $100 a test that’s 5 billion a month for PCR testing.
Jay J
PCR can be done in a matter of 1-2 hours, not days. The problem is the states sending the tests to a central point, causing a backlog. Health facilities that do it in-house can give you quick results.
James B
Most sources put the antigen accuracy at 95%. In 2019 the average daily tourist arrivals was ~250,000. That’s 12,500 potential positives daily if tourism came roaring back. Numbers matter. Facts matter. Now you have diminished the impact of false negatives, misstated what an antigen test actually detects, and used an inaccurate % of false negatives related to the antigen test regime.
The reason I keep replying is to alert other readers to research, cite, and be careful about postings’ accuracy.
Dave R
Thank you for keeping the discussion fact-based, and providing accurate information. If only all posters would do the same! Sadly, too many people want to make a medical issue into a political issue. The virus really doesn’t care about politics, and neither do those who have severe symptoms (blood clots, strokes, heart damage, damage to liver and kidneys, etc.) or whose friends or relatives have died of COVID-19.
Cheryl W
Please let our Governor and mayors know about this so they can make decisions to use it and stop the 14 day quarantine. Thanks.
Beat of Hawaii
Hi Cheryl.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Ken H
Hi,
CA just bought a version that will increase testing by 150k/day. Their cost is $35/test.
Quarentine already mucked up our 2 wk visit the end of September.
Comments are closed.
Aloha!
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All of this sounds promising. BUT, it does not even begin to address the problem of lost airline fares and Condo deposits, etc. if a person tests positive at the last moment before departure. What then?
Unless the Airlines and Hotels and especially condo owners step up with something that will keep us from losing lots of $$$ – I am still not interested. Seriously doubt travel insurance will cover this. Travel insurance is notorious for not coming through. :0(
Everything is just waaay too iffy and will probably stay that way for a long time. Just wait for the next round of lay offs. See how things go then. Thousands are set to be laid off in the airline industry alone. Everything is broken and no one has a fix. :0(
It will surprise me if things are still bad next summer 2021! Sorry to be such a pessimist. We will wait until Spring 2021 and see how things go. Too much time/energy/money to invest in a ‘not so fun’ Hawaiian vacation in quarantine or worse – cancelled at the very last moment by a positive test. :0(
Most travel insurance explicitly excludes any “known” problem at the time you initially made your reservations, such as an approaching typhoon (or maybe even typhoon season), outbreak of disease, etc. For this reason, for our May 2020 trip, we initially were unable to get a refund from Alaska Air or any insurance compensation for our condo rental. What we did was this: we held off on cancelling, hoping that Alaska would cancel the flights first. When they did, they had to give us a refund. After that the insurance for the condo was pretty easy since Alaska had effectively cancelled our trip, not us.
Now we are going to wait until there’s a vaccine (if ever). Meanwhile, we’re re-learning how to enjoy the many nice things about where we live – right down to observing the antics of the mockingbirds looking for bugs in the back yard. Beauty is where you find it.
you know this all about politics right? I would not for one second trust this test because it was pushed thru forced thru by TOP officials to try and make the incompetent american government look like they are doing something. How readily available will it be? NOPE I would not trust this test at all currently
To Paul C. The sky is not falling.! Yes, it is possible that something good for Hawaii could possibly happen, Not everything is bad and wrong. I’m challenging you to write something good and positive next time. Enough with the hate and mean spirited comments!
Mahal & Aloha!
TJ
I will be more than happy to be positive when our potus and government start to take this seriously. Pushing for a miracle too quickly could kill countless others.
You seem to have forgotten that a negative test result shows that you don’t have covid today. It doesn’t mean that you’re not incubating it. There’s a reason why quarantine lasts 14 days.
Iceland had allowed entry with one negative test and then started to get cases on their island from those who subsequently developed it. They’ve now introduced a second test on day 5 of quarantine. That should pick up about 85% of cases. But there’s still 5 days of quarantine and they’re still risking transmission on their island from those visiting.
The only game changer with this test is fast results which means contacts can be told to isolate sooner and stop the spread of the virus.
So the naysayers who want to maximize economic damage will point out how it is no good.
THey forget:
all current tests give false negatives and false positives
Quarantine does not prevent against asymptomatic who can be infectious 3-4 weeks after infection
Many people show symptoms before 3 weeks, many by three weeks but equally many take up to 4-5 weeks to show symptoms.
Many symptoms such as aches and fatigue are missed as jet lag.
So before the great campaign against making things better starts, let’s be real about where we are right now.
My question is how much will the clinic/ parmacy and Dr, Nurse, Pharmacist charge for administration? Can they trun it round in 48-72 hours and can they supply the certiciation that Hawaii (CLIA) Japan and others are asking for all test results? SOme want NAAT some want PCR, will we gget a global standard. Who is libale if a false positive causes someone to lose the flight? WHo is liable if a false negative infects a plane full of folks? Let us see the dtail. Unfortunately I am sure some folks in Hawaii will ensure they do well out of it.
Asymptomatics are not driving this disease. Look at the extensive research done by contact tracers. Individuals can be trusted to manage their own health. Have you ever needed a test to tell you whether you’re sick or not? Symptoms come before diagnosis. Medical School 101.
So much suffering could be avoided if that simple common sense idea was remembered and embraced by all.
Simple common sense includes accurate facts.
In fact, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers are a major spreader of COVID.
“CDC Estimate of Asymptomatic COVID-19 Carriers Increased to 40%. Asymptomatic coronavirus carriers, or those who do not experience any symptoms, unknowingly contribute to the spread of COVID-19, infectious disease experts say. Now the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidance that raises the estimate of asymptomatic carriers to 40 percent of people who have COVID-19.
“The CDC had estimated that the chance of transmission of COVID-19 from asymptomatic people was 100 percent. But that figure has been revised downward this month to 75 percent. That means that the CDC now says asymptomatic individuals are less likely to transmit infection, compared to symptomatic individuals who have a 100 percent chance of transmission.”
75% is major.
“the CDC stated that researchers in Singapore identified seven clusters of cases in which presymptomatic transmission is the most likely explanation for the occurrence of secondary cases.
That report was backed up by a study Trusted Source published in mid-April that concluded that people with no symptoms are the source of 44 percent of diagnosed COVID-19 cases.”
44% is major.
It doesn’t sound like you went to med school or nursing school – or took “Medical School 101.”
It is petty and needlessly insulting (not to mention totally off-the-wall wrong) to claim that “naysayers” “want to maximize economic damage.” Frankly I’m surprised that they allow this sort of vicious comment on the site.
Aloha! Thanks for your good work guys! Thanks for some great news! Yes, Hawaii now needs people in charge who can properly handle this new situation. They are our elected officials. The current government has shown their inefficiency, at the expense of their citizens. Enough already. And sadly I heard Oahu compared to New Zealand or worse Melbourne Australia, as voting to implement new laws against citizen’s personal freedoms. Wake up Hawaii. Time for a change. Proactive not reactive! Together we can do this!
Personal freedom…freedom to infect other people. Wonderful.
Why on earth would Hawai’i want to open up more, so that people who don’t care about others can come flooding in and overwhelm the health care ‘system’? The death rate in Hawai’i is still very low. Many people would prefer to keep it that way.
Not sure what you mean by “Oahu compared to New Zealand.” O’ahu has been very nice to visitors. In NZ they quarantine people in a facility with a fence around it. A police officer has been placed at all hotels, two-metre fences have been installed, and strict checks have been introduced for exemptions from isolation or quarantine. Violators are arrested and charged.
“Beat of Hawaii: We cannot imagine that Hawaii will not be all over this test as the way to eliminate mandatory 14-day quarantine.”
Tsk … tsk … really? If it makes sense & puts Hawaii on level ground, you can be sure our elected officials will find a reason not to do it!
Thank you for the positive news!!! I really hope this comes to life. My daughter started her freshman year and I couldn’t accompany her due to the quarantine restrictions. So I pray this happens so I can visit
Hi Joyce.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Thinking there is Hope for our Anniversary Trip in December. THANKS TO ABBOTT LABS.
This is an antigen test which only shows the presence of antibodies. will that be enough to prove a negative status, since now at least one person who had CV-19 was reinfected?
I just read an article in the Atlantic re: this test. It’s true that it is an antigen test. It is slightly less accurate than the gold standard PCR, but it is a game changer. This will allow rapid and frequent testing which is what is needed to move the economy.
I’d recommend reading the article.
Here we come Kauai (in May)
I’m sorry but you are wrong. This test has nothing to do with antibodies. Antibodies require a blood test. And antibodies only show you had COVID-19 at some time in the past. I have measles antibodies from 70 years ago.
At this time, antibody tests are a research tool to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines.
Antigen tests show if you have COVID in your upper respiratory tract.
There is a small chance you were exposed so recently that you have undetectable antigen levels.
However, a 97% chance of being COVID free is the best we can do.
However, a universal 14-day quarantine in prison is the most certain way to keep COVID out.
This from the CDC. Antigen tests detect the proteins that generate an immune response:
“Antigen tests are designed to detect viral proteins — which, in the case of the coronavirus, would come from the spikes that coat the outside surface of the virus — that trigger an immune response in the body.”
So, you see, splitting hairs does make sense when the facts are on your side. Also, the sad truth of antigen tests vs. PCR. (CDC)
“But antigen testing is not as sensitive as PCR testing, which means there is a greater chance that antigen tests could deliver false negative results. In other words, a patient could be infected but an antigen test is just not sensitive enough to detect it.”
But the antigen test gives 97-98% accuracy in 15 min. PCR takes days and won’t meet any of the 72-hour windows. PCR is expensive and slow.
How much more accurate do we need testing to be?
PCR just can’t be scaled to 50 million a month or hundreds of millions a month.
And at $100 a test that’s 5 billion a month for PCR testing.
PCR can be done in a matter of 1-2 hours, not days. The problem is the states sending the tests to a central point, causing a backlog. Health facilities that do it in-house can give you quick results.
Most sources put the antigen accuracy at 95%. In 2019 the average daily tourist arrivals was ~250,000. That’s 12,500 potential positives daily if tourism came roaring back. Numbers matter. Facts matter. Now you have diminished the impact of false negatives, misstated what an antigen test actually detects, and used an inaccurate % of false negatives related to the antigen test regime.
The reason I keep replying is to alert other readers to research, cite, and be careful about postings’ accuracy.
Thank you for keeping the discussion fact-based, and providing accurate information. If only all posters would do the same! Sadly, too many people want to make a medical issue into a political issue. The virus really doesn’t care about politics, and neither do those who have severe symptoms (blood clots, strokes, heart damage, damage to liver and kidneys, etc.) or whose friends or relatives have died of COVID-19.
Please let our Governor and mayors know about this so they can make decisions to use it and stop the 14 day quarantine. Thanks.
Hi Cheryl.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Hi,
CA just bought a version that will increase testing by 150k/day. Their cost is $35/test.
Quarentine already mucked up our 2 wk visit the end of September.