Story at a glance
- Hawaii Gov. David Ige confirmed the state will not mandate quarantines for vaccinated U.S. travelers.
- The state had struggled to reopen while containing COVID-19.
After months of strict health protocols for incoming travelers, Hawaii will no longer require a mandated two-week quarantine following its pre-travel testing requirements, effective July 8.
Gov. David Ige (D) made the announcement in a press release and notes that this only applies to travelers who have been vaccinated in the U.S.
“We anticipate that on or about July 8, Hawai‘i will have achieved a 60% vaccination rate,” Ige said. “Our residents have sacrificed and worked hard to get to this point, but we still have more to do. Please get vaccinated to protect yourselves and your loved ones. We are close to achieving a 70% vaccination rate, at which point all restrictions will end and we can return to the lives we remember.”
Inbound travelers will still be required to upload vaccine documentation to the state’s Safe Travels Program portal.
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The July 8 date is significant because it is when about 60 percent of Hawaiian adults will be fully vaccinated. Current statistics suggest that nearly 70 percent of Hawaiian adults have received at least one dose.
Once the 60-percent vaccination target is reached, the state will begin expanding social gatherings to 75 people outdoors and 25 people indoors. Restaurant capacity may increase to 75 percent as well.
This follows the state’s bid to thread the needle between keeping its lucrative tourism industry healthy and enacting public health restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Earlier in the pandemic, flights were restricted from entering the archipelago state and eventually evolved into the state requiring mandatory quarantines and proof of negative COVID-19 test results for entry.
Inter-island vaccine passports were also considered at one point.
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