After observing the presentation by Sandy Baz, the Maui Chamber of Commerce summarized what we can expect for travel opening on October 15th.
Update on Reopening Travel Plans for Maui County and the State:
Both the Mayor’s office and Governor provided press conferences today where they addressed travel plans.
Sandy Baz, Managing Director for the County of Maui shared that they have sent in 3 requests to the Governor, but they are still waiting on the Governor’s response.
1. If Maui County residents can travel solely between Maui, Molokai and Lanai without a quarantine.
2. For interisland travel to reopen with a pre-travel testing program similar to what is happening with Trans Pacific travel.
3. As the Mayor announced earlier this week, his request to mandate a second test for Trans Pacific travelers was denied by the Governor. However, he is asking the Governor to consider a request to strongly encourage visitors to take a voluntary second test, with incentives offered. He said they are working with hotels and lodging areas to encourage their guests to get tested.
Sandy also shared that travelers who are quarantining as they await their test results from the pre-travel test (if they did not get them prior to landing) can quarantine in their hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, condo or legal transient vacation rental.
In addition, Governor Ige and Lt. Governor Josh Green did a press briefing today on the October 15th reopening plan.
Updates include additional trusted travel and testing partners including: AFC Urgent Care, Carbon Health, CityHealth Urgent Care, Color, CVS Health, Hawaiian Airlines, Kaiser Permanente, Quest Diagnostics, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Vault Health and Walgreens and mentioned Alaska Airlines is in the final phase of getting their approvals.
He also shared they are working on a post arrival surveillance testing program as a pilot by giving 10% of arrivals (who did the pre-test) a second test 4 days after arrival. However, we understand that will be voluntary and incentivized as a way to ensure safety and make sure the pre-test system works properly.