The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today released updated guidelines for fully vaccinated travelers in the United States, saying those travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19.
The guidelines include recommendations that fully vaccinated individuals should not take a COVID-19 test before or after the trip, unless their destination requires it; and they do not need self-quarantine.
The CDC still recommends fully vaccinated travelers to follow safety recommendations that include: wear a mask properly over your nose and mouth, stay six feet away from others, avoid crowds and wash your hands, or use disinfectant to hands.
A person who has waited at least two weeks since obtaining a final dose of FDA-authorized vaccine is considered fully vaccinated.
Current state guidelines require testing and quarantine
Under current state regulations, all trans-Pacific passengers arriving in Hawaii must be tested before boarding flights (within 72 hours prior to departure of the last leg of their trip to Hawaii) or ‘must face a quarantine of 10 days on arrival. According to Hawaii’s safe travel program:
- Travelers to Kaua’i must receive a negative pre-trip test result before departure and a second negative test result after 72 hours at an approved Improved Motion Quarantine “resort bubble” property ( EMQ). From April 5, Kauaʻi will rejoin the trans-Pacific Safe Travels program.
- Travelers to Maui must download the AlohaSafe Alert app, in addition to other requirements.
Trans-Pacific travelers arriving without a confirmed negative test cannot obtain a nucleic acid amplification test on arrival in Hawaii.
The state of Hawai’I ONLY accepts NAAT tests of laboratory test improvement laboratory test results certified by TRAVEL PARTNERS AND TRUSTED TRIPS.
Maui Now addressed state officials to comment on plans being put forward to see if amendments to state regulations would be made. We are currently awaiting a response.
Hawaiian Airlines is requesting an update to the Safe Travels program following the new CDC guidelines
Hawaiian Airlines issued a statement in response to CDC’s updated travel guides, saying they are satisfied with the guidelines and expect the state to update its safe travel program to align with the recommendations.
“We are pleased to see the CDC’s determination today that fully vaccinated people can travel safely to the country without testing or needing to be quarantined. We hope the state of Hawaii will update the Safe Travels program to align with these recommendations. The CDC guidelines emphasize the effectiveness of vaccinations, as well as the comprehensive safety and health protocols adopted by the airline industry. While we must all continue to take personal responsibility for protecting ourselves and others, it is time to restore freedom of travel to allow families and friends to reconnect and generate crucial economic activity. ”
The vaccine passport proposal faces challenges; The mayor of Maui is waiting for the second test proposal
A few days after he submitted a proposal for a pilot vaccine passport program for Maui, Mayor Michael Victorino said he does not look promising after a new discussion with the governor. “He doesn’t seem to approve the (vaccine) passport, but that hasn’t been confirmed,” Mayor Victorino said during a press session Thursday afternoon.
Under the program proposal, fully vaccinated individuals, with at least two weeks of incubation from the final dose of vaccination, could avoid forty days of the state without having to take a test.
Mayor Victorino is also requesting a second test requirement for arriving travelers and is also awaiting the governor’s response. “As for a second test, he is looking at it very favorably, but he has not confirmed it either. So I will say I will wait until Monday (for) his decision. I request a decision as soon as possible so that we can implement all our plans. They are ready, but they are waiting until we receive their approval. We will spend at least 7 to 10 working days implementing it, so that the faster we can get a response, especially if it is positive, the faster we can get it ”.
“I really want to do a second test. I think that’s doable, ”Mayor Victorino said.
CDC recommendations for international travel differ from domestic flights
The CDC states that international travel carries additional risks and even fully vaccinated travelers are at increased risk of obtaining and possibly disseminating new variants of COVID-19. The CDC recommends delaying international travel until they are fully vaccinated.
According to CDC guidelines, those who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine and travel internationally should get tested three or five days after completing the trip. The CDC recommends that international travelers not have to take tests before leaving the United States, unless their destination requires it; and should not self-quarantine after arriving in the US.
This also differs from current regulations for international travel to Hawaii.
Under current state regulations, travelers from Japan, Canada, and Korea to Hawaii can bypass the mandatory forty-day quarantine from the state of Hawaii by ensuring a pre-trip test from a trusted test and travel partner. 72 hours before departure on the last leg of your trip to Hawaii. Travelers from Japan, Canada, and Korea who fail a negative test of COVID-19 BEFORE departure will be subject to the same mandatory 10-day quarantine regulation as other trans-Pacific travelers to Hawaii. The negative test result must be uploaded to Safe Travels prior to departure or printed prior to departure and a hard copy must be made upon arrival in Hawai’i.
There are currently no other enhanced entry options available for international travel to Hawaiʻi.