Negative virus test required for Hawaii travelers

Anyone flying to Hawaii will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test result prior to ir departure for state, with new rule going into effect two days before Thanksgiving, Gov. David Ige announced Thursday.

Until now, passengers flying to islands using a pre-travel testing program were permitted to arrive and n uplo ir negative test results to a state database, allowing m to skip two weeks of quarantine.

However, some travelers who arrived in Hawaii without ir test results wound up later testing positive.

That, in part, prompted rule change, Ige said at a news conference,

new program goes into effect Tuesday, just ahe of holiday.

Wednesday before Thanksgiving is tritionally one of busiest travel days of year.

Centers for Disease Control has urged people not to travel this year because of a surge in coronavirus cases nationwide.

To bypass 14-day quarantine, travelers must have correct of COVID-19 negative test results from one of state's trusted testing partners, Ige said.

Those who arrive without having ir negative test results before departure will not be able to skip quarantine, even if ir negative results become available shortly after y arrive.

Passenger have always h option to not get tested at all and quarantine in ir hotel rooms or homes upon arrival.

Travelers will continue to have that option.

rules apply to anyone flying to Hawaii from U.S. mainland or Japan, both of which have pre-testing programs in place.

Ige also said passengers from Cana will soon have option to get pre-tested and come to Hawaii.

For most people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks.

But for ors, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.

vast majority of people recover.

(Image Credit: AP)