Delta variant on the move in Hawaii as 30,000 arrive daily
30,000 visitors or more are arriving in Hawaii on some days, while the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus becomes a concern for the Hawaii Department of Health.Starting July 8, vaccinated visitors can travel to Hawaii without restrictions, despite the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in the Aloha State.
Starting July 8, vaccinated visitors can travel to Hawaii without restrictions, despite the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in the Aloha State. The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division (SLD) has detected a total of 13 cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617.2, also known as the Delta variant of concern. The Delta variant has been found on O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i, and Hawai‘i Island.
As of today, nine cases of the Delta variant have been detected on O‘ahu, two on Maui, one on Kaua‘i, and one on Hawai‘i island. This number is expected to double every 10-14 days.
“Prevention is the best treatment,” said Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman. “You can protect yourself and slow the spread by getting vaccinated today.”
Officials answered questions by local journalists on the state of this situation.
“Travelers are bringing the Delta variant of the COVID virus to the state,” Dr. Berrem told KITV. “Such travelers are not only visitors,” Dr. Janet Berrem told eTurboNews.
eTurboNews questioned if the opening of the state to all visitors should be delayed. eTurboNews cited a report on Israel setting a trend in the delay of reopening its tourism destinations.
Dr. Berrem added that only vaccinated visitors could arrive after July 8 without a test. Israel, however, also had planned to open to vaccinated visitors and delayed this process for a month to study what the Delta variant could do to vaccinated people.
Dr. Berrem said the Hawaii economy could not stand a reverse on the reopening effort for the badly-needed visitor industry.
When asked if tourists should receive a rapid test before they can be admitted to hotels, Dr. Berrem responded that the state is concentrating on testing of its populations outside the tourism mile of Waikiki. She added that the key is vaccination.
Hawaii is doing everything possible to encourage those that are not vaccinated to get the shots in earning free entrance to the Honolulu Zoo, the Oahu Waterpark, and many other perks available now to convince the 40 percent in Hawaii considered unvaccinated. The state hopes these perks will convince unvaccinated people to take the important step and become immune to the deadly COVID-19 virus.
As was the case from the beginning of the COVID outbreak, the Hawaii Tourism Authority was not available for comments or guidance.
