For the first 7 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the island of Kauai in Hawaii went under lockdown to stop the spread of the virus. Most of the 72,000 residents not he island remained healthy with only 61 reported cases. However, on October 15th, Hawaii launched a pre-travel testing program to boost the economy and attract travelers again.
Kauai had no active cases in the beginning of October and the number rose to 84 new cases within 7 weeks. As a result of the surge, the island experienced it’s first COVID-19-related death.
Hawaii made sure to be extremely cautious before reopening and enforced travelers to show negative test results before boarding their flights to the island but the cases still spiked. Kauai officials have deemed travelers visiting for vacation as too risky.
Kauai has now opted out of Hawaii’s testing program and proposed a mandate to enforce it’s visitors to quarantine for two weeks regardless of if they tested negative for COVID-19.
According to Kauai’s Mayor Derek Kawakami, the island has 9 ICU beds and 14 ventilators and can be worn by if there wee to be another outbreak. Kawakami has now enforced travelers to get tested for the second time after arriving. “We think having a negative test is a good prerequisite to getting on a plane, but once you and on Kauai…[travelers] should be able to sit and cool off for three days.”
Kawakami’s proposal has turned down by Hawaii officials.