US: Hawaii issues orders to impose gathering, business restrictions Aug. 13, due to COVID-19 activity /update 22

Officials in Hawaii, US issue order to reimpose gathering and business restrictions Aug. 13, due to COVID-19. Travel restrictions unchanged.

Event

As of Aug. 13, officials in Hawaii have issued orders to reimpose certain gathering and business restrictions, due to increases in COVID-19 infections. The new restrictions will be in place until at least Oct. 18. Travel requirements to enter the state remain unchanged.

Under the new directives, the maximum size of social gatherings has been reduced from 25 to 10 people indoors, and from 75 to 25 people outdoors. Those will also be the maximum number of people allowed per table at restaurants and bars; these food and drink establishments, as well as gyms and other social venues, are now required to limit operations to 50-percent of their maximum capacity, compared to 75-percent under the previous regulations.

The state's Safe Travel program, and other guidelines, remain unchanged. Individuals who have been fully vaccinated in the US or US territories more than 14 days before their trip, and travel from within the US are no longer required to take a pre-travel test or quarantine upon arrival, as long as they show proof of their vaccination. Pre-test and quarantine requirements for all travelers going from one Hawaiian island to another have been lifted.

Travelers may enter Hawaii's islands from international destinations (or from the US if they are not fully vaccinated) without having to self-quarantine if they provide proof of having tested negative for COVID-19 using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved nucleic acid amplification test within 72 hours before the final leg of their trip to the state. The test must be administered by an establishment designated by the State of Hawaii as an "approved and trusted testing and travel partner," and the results must be presented before the traveler's departure for Hawaii. As of Aug. 13, only certain establishments in the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, French Polynesia, Philippines, and Taiwan have been designated as trusted testing and travel partners by state authorities, as well as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Oakland International Airport (OAK).

Travelers who do not provide a negative test result before departing for Hawaii must quarantine upon arrival for 10 days or the duration of their stay, whichever is shorter. Travelers must also undergo temperature screening on arrival and must fill out a travel and health form. Additionally, local officials in Hawaii County randomly select out-of-state travelers to take antigen tests; if the result is positive or inconclusive, the individual must take additional tests. For more details of the state's travel restrictions, click here.

Individuals must wear protective facemasks statewide in indoor public settings. Officials have also ordered all state and county employees to be vaccinated by Aug. 16, or take weekly COVID-19 tests.

Domestic Measures
Most restrictions at the county level have been eased due to high vaccination rates. As of Aug. 13, the following guidelines are in place:

City and County of Honolulu: Most establishments can operate, following the statewide limits. For more details, click here.
Maui County: Nightclubs and concert halls remain closed. Beaches and parks can open from 07:00-19:00. Most businesses may operate enforcing social distancing measures. For more details, click here.
Kauai County: The island is on Tier 5 of its reopening plan. Most businesses can operate at 75-percent capacity, except those limited under the state orders. For more details, click here.
Hawaii County: Most businesses are allowed to open without specific limitations, except those limited under the state orders. For more details, click here.

Statewide, individuals continue to be required to use facemasks in indoor public settings. Officials could amend the order on short notice, depending on disease activity in the coming weeks.