Earlier this week, Hawaii Gov. David Ige asked people to postpone their visits to the state for 30 days, and most people are listening.In a Thursday evening press conference, Ige said flights to Hawaii this week are down 87% compared to the same week in 2019.”We must try to stop visitors from coming to Hawaii in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 into our communities,” Ige said.The state is backing up its request for fewer visitors with an order that all arrivals — residents and visitors — immediately enter a 14-day quarantine upon entering the state. Visitors must spend that time in their hotel room at their own expense or face a possible criminal charge if they ignore the order.Related video: Coronavirus tourism toll“Only 38 total people flew into Kauai’s airport (Thursday),” said Tim Sakahara with the state’s Department of Transportation. Arrivals are interviewed before being allowed to leave the airport and must fill out a form giving details on where they will be spending their quarantine.Ige says the state is also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to find places where a field hospital could be set up if one is necessary. A site survey already has been done at the exhibition hall of the Hawaii Convention Center, according to Ige.
Earlier this week, Hawaii Gov. David Ige asked people to postpone their visits to the state for 30 days, and most people are listening.
In a Thursday evening press conference, Ige said flights to Hawaii this week are down 87% compared to the same week in 2019.
“We must try to stop visitors from coming to Hawaii in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 into our communities,” Ige said.
The state is backing up its request for fewer visitors with an order that all arrivals — residents and visitors — immediately enter a 14-day quarantine upon entering the state. Visitors must spend that time in their hotel room at their own expense or face a possible criminal charge if they ignore the order.
Related video: Coronavirus tourism toll
“Only 38 total people flew into Kauai’s airport (Thursday),” said Tim Sakahara with the state’s Department of Transportation. Arrivals are interviewed before being allowed to leave the airport and must fill out a form giving details on where they will be spending their quarantine.
Ige says the state is also working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to find places where a field hospital could be set up if one is necessary. A site survey already has been done at the exhibition hall of the Hawaii Convention Center, according to Ige.
