Hawaii reinstates mandatory quarantine for inter-island travelers amid triple-digit surge of new COVID-19 cases

Hawaii Governor David Ige (Democrat) at a news conference at his office on Thursday, August 6. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Police Chief Susan Ballard look on. (Courtesy Office of the Governor of Hawaii)

By Alfred Acenas
EBC Hawaii Bureau

HONOLULU (Eagle News) – In response to the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases on Oahu, resulting mostly from large gatherings in uncontrolled environments, Governor David Ige announced on Thursday, August 6, that a mandatory self-quarantine for inter-island travelers will be reinstated.

During an afternoon news conference and after further discussions with State Attorney General Clare Connors, Ige decided that he would approve the inter-island travel quarantine only for travelers arriving in Kauai, Maui, Kalawao and Big Island. The period of self-quarantine will begin immediately upon arrival and will last 14 days or the duration of the person’s stay on the island, whichever is shorter.

The Attorney General’s Office is finalizing an 11th emergency proclamation that the governor will sign on Tuesday, August 11.

“I have been working closely with all of our county mayors and we agree that reinstating the inter-island travel quarantine is necessary and the right thing to do at this time. We must protect our neighbor island residents in light of the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases on Oahu,” said the governor.

The inter-island quarantine will continue through August 31 unless terminated or extended by a separate proclamation. The previous inter-island travel quarantine mandate took effect on April 1 and was lifted on June 16.

As of this report, the Hawaii Department of Health reported 152 new positive cases. One of the cases is on Big Island, three on Maui, and 148 cases Oahu, resulting in a cumulative total of 2,914 cases statewide.

Two more residents from Oahu, both with underlying conditions, succumbed to the deadly disease, adding to a total of 29 lives lost in the Aloha State.

(Eagle News Service)