To enter Hawaii right now, travelers must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival or show proof of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours before arriving in the state.
However, it appeared that with COVID vaccines becoming a reality, a change might have been on the horizon.
A few weeks ago, we wrote that Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Josh Green had reached out to Governor David Ige with a suggestion of updating their policy to allow travelers to skip testing and/or quarantine if they were fully vaccinated against COVID. It would definitely have been viewed as a win for travelers, who currently have to pay for their testing, which costs well over $100 per person.
Unfortunately, Governor Ige just shot the whole idea down.
Ige said earlier this week that researchers are still unclear about whether or not the vaccine hampers virus transmission. Until that’s been clarified, Ige doesn’t feel comfortable visitors foregoing testing or quarantine.
“Until the science (tells) us that those who are vaccinated cannot carry the virus and, I think most important, do not transmit it to other people, I think it would be irresponsible to say that those vaccinated can travel about freely,” Ige was quoted in the Associated Press.
Similar to a flu shot, the current COVID vaccines aren’t necessarily 100% effective in preventing you from getting COVID (Moderna is 94% effective and Pfizer is 95% effective). However, if you’ve gotten the vaccine and wind up, by the 5 or 6% chance of catching the virus, your case will be much milder than it would have been without the vaccine (which is also the same as what happens when you get a flu shot). However should you catch it, as Ige said, the scientists don’t yet know if you’d be contagious or not.
Until the doctors and scientists understand more about that situation, it’s an excellent reason to continue with testing/quarantine after all.
Feature Photo: Pixabay
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
2 comments
I’d take anything Lt. Gov. Josh Green says with a HUGE grain of salt. In the past, idk, 6 months? All he’s been doing is discussing plans he’s discussed with absolutely no one else and issuing statements that contradict the Department of Health. Just the other day he urged state officials to expand the availability of vaccines even though it’s widely known that we’re experiencing a severe shortage.
Got it. Will keep that in mind. Thank-you!