Covid 19 Test to Travel to Hawaii
A Valley mother and daughter were held in quarantine in Hawaii after being told they got the wrong COVID-nineteen test.
PHOENIX — Nigh two one thousand thousand people flew over the long weekend alee of Memorial Day, marking the busiest days at airports since March 2020, according to TSA information.
Despite positive signs that the state is continuing to movement in a positive direction -- cases are downwardly and millions have been vaccinated -- some states still have COVID-nineteen-related protocols and rules in place, something that travelers need to remember.
Martha Lubeach and her daughter, Beke, booked a tropical vacation to Hawaii, only when they arrived, they institute themselves abroad from the beach and quarantined inside their hotel room.
"My girl was taking me to Hawaii to celebrate Mother's Day and to celebrate my husband's birthday, who passed away seven weeks agone," said an emotional Martha Lubeach.
She and her husband were married for more 50 years.
Her girl, Beke, idea a stay on Waikiki Embankment would have good for both of them.
Currently, Hawaii requires travelers to have a negative COVID-19 test result inside 72 hours of their deviation, just only specific types of COVID-19 tests are immune, something that has dislocated travelers before.
Without information technology, travelers either have to go out the island and fly back domicile or undergo a 10-twenty-four hours quarantine.
Martha and Beke said they received their negative COVID-19 tests at CVS and told the testers that they needed them for an upcoming trip to Hawaii. Both tests were negative.
Only, when they arrived in Honolulu, officials told them that they had received the wrong examination.
"They said 'no, you can't come in, you got the wrong exam,'" said Martha. She tried arguing the validity of her test, asked to accept another test, and showed that they were both vaccinated, simply officials at the airdrome would non budge.
"After two hours, security came and escorted us out of the identify," Martha said. They were transferred to their hotel and told that they would have to quarantine in their room for the side by side 10 days.
"They said we lock yous in a room and you can't come up out," she said. If that did, they could take been fined or even arrested, she said.
"When I did open the door, security is standing there every bit close as can be as if I would attempt to run. I've got a bad leg, no way I could," Martha said.
From their room, the Lubeachs said they called Hawaii'due south SafeTravels program, the Governor'southward Part, and anyone else who would listen to their pleas. Finally, they contacted Hawaiian Airlines and booked a trip back to Phoenix the post-obit day.
"I felt like a criminal, I really did. I felt like the whole world was endmost in on me," she said.
A spokesperson for the state of Hawaii said they were sorry about the Lubeach'southward feel, but said the state has made it clear that Nucleic Acid AmplificationTests (NAAT) are the only adequate COVID-19 exam to become into Hawaii.
Antigen tests, which is what the Lubeachs were given, are not accepted, fifty-fifty if negative.
Hawaii says the requirements are in place to "reduce health risks of travel during this active pandemic."
For the Lubeachs', they wonder why they weren't made aware of the issues prior to their trip and how they were even able to get on the plane?
"They didn't say anything was wrong. Then, we causeless information technology was all right," Martha said.
When she got dorsum dwelling, Martha said she called the CVS location where she and her daughter got their COVID-19 test.
"They said it'due south not their problem. It was the examination. I said, 'it's got to be someone'southward problem,'" Martha said.
In a statement, CVS said it was "enlightened of the requirements" traveling to Hawaii and said travelers "need to ensure they are selecting the proper test equally required." CVS would not talk over the Lubeachs' specific case.
Hither is the total argument from the country of Hawaii:
The Hawaiʻi Safety Travels team continually works to make Hawaiʻi'due south travel requirements during this ongoing pandemic clear through our messaging and on the website HawaiiCovid19.com. We are sad that Beke Lubeach and her mother Martha did not take a good experience on their recent visit. Yet, it is highly recommended that travelers research and understand the rules in identify for the location they plan to visit. HawaiiCovid19.com is clearly and often highlighted on all Land of Hawaiʻi websites as well as many travel sites.
To reduce health risks of travel during this active pandemic, the Land of Hawaiʻi has a mandatory 10-day quarantine for anyone entering the state - both residents and visitors alike. In order to facilitate travel equally safely as possible, travelers may seek an exemption from quarantine. The state of Hawaiʻi has posted all requirements for bypassing the mandatory quarantine on its website: HawaiiCovid19.com. The site and digital platform is very clear that Hawaiʻi does not accept antigen tests.
https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/travel-overview/
We also asked them some specific questions about Lubeach's case:
Joe: "Had a question about the organization showing that Beke's exam was non accustomed. Exercise you know when that would have been seen?"
Hawaii spokesperson: "The condition of the test upshot upload would have been seen within seconds after uploading."
Joe: "But one concern from these two, is at that place something that could be put in place earlier someone gets on a plane to head to Hawaii? Could in that location exist a check-in process to make sure everything is expert before anyone is allowed to step on a airplane with a Hawaii destination?"
Hawaii spokesperson: "Travelers should cheque their certificate upload status correct later uploading their document. If it does not say COVID-19 negative, travelers can contact our travel help desk at info@gohawaii.com, or Call: 1-800-GOHAWAI or (i-800-464-2924) for assistance. Travelers may besides call the Safe Travels Digital Platform Technical Service Desk (ten a.1000. to 10 p.m. HST): 1-855-599-0888."
Also, Beke Lubeach traveled on Hawaiian Airlines. In that location is a pre-clear programme available at PHX, among other airports. Please see information hither: https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/coronavirus/pre-clear-program. It appears she did not participate in the pre-clear program.
There are also other pre-clear programs with other airlines. The information is found on the individual carrier's website. "
Joe: Likewise, if a examination needs to be taken inside 72 hours, can information technology be tough to get results posted and a determination before a flying to Hawaii?
Hawaii spokesperson: In that location are many options for trusted testing partners and we encourage those that may detect it challenging to find a testing partner who can evangelize exam results within the 72-hour window. There have been more than than iii.v one thousand thousand travelers to Hawaii who successfully met the requirements of the pre-travel testing program since information technology started in Oct. 2020."
ABC15 likewise reached out to CVS. Here is their statement:
Nosotros have been a Trusted Testing and Travel Partner for Hawaii since the state launched its pre-travel COVID-nineteen testing program concluding Oct and are aware of the requirements put in identify by the land of Hawaii for the pre-travel COVID-19 testing program. We currently have more than 4,000 COVID-19 drive-thru test sites at select CVS Pharmacy locations that provide the type of testing required by the state for this programme. We recommend that people use the following link (every bit included on the Land's website outlining the requirements for travel to the islands) to properly access the test sites that provide the type of exam that meets the state's requirements.
Equally noted on our website, we currently manage test sites at our CVS Pharmacy locations that use two types of COVID-19 testing to check for active infection. Our rapid-result testing locations perform antigen testing, which returns results inside hours and our other testing locations send the sample offsite to independent tertiary-party labs, where they perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and provide results within 1-2 days on boilerplate. If someone is getting a test for a specific purpose such every bit travel, they demand to ensure they are selecting the proper test as required by their airline, destination, or other requiring organization. Certain travel destinations and airlines practise not accept rapid-consequence testing.
Loading...
Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
0 Response to "Covid 19 Test to Travel to Hawaii"
Post a Comment