If you have a trip planned to Hawaii in the near future, the Hawaiian government is urging you to postpone. The state’s hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed amidst a huge spike in COVID-19 cases, attributed to the highly contagious Delta variant.
At a recent press conference, Hawaii Governor David Ige asked tourists to avoid visiting the islands until at least the end of October. “Our hospitals are reaching capacity and our ICUs are filling up. Now is not a good time to travel to Hawaii,” Ige pleaded.
The state is anticipating a timeline of six to seven weeks to see a significant reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases.
John De Fries, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, agreed with Ige. “Our community, residents and the visitor industry, are responsible for working together to address this crisis,” De Fries said. “As such, we are strongly advising visitors that now is not the right time to travel, and they should postpone their trips through the end of October.”
Visitor requirements to Hawaii have not changed despite this call to pause tourism. Hawaii recently dropped its strict entry requirement for tourists, allowing vaccinated travelers to visit without needing to test or quarantine. (Unvaccinated travelers must still present proof of a negative test or undergo a 10-day quarantine.)
Ige indicated that the state would be unlikely to reinstate entry requirements for vaccinated travelers due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s stance that vaccinated travelers can travel safely domestically. However, Ige did not rule out a return to a strict lockdown within Hawaii (for both residents and tourists) if cases continue to rise.
You Might Also Like:
• The 11 Best Stocking Stuffers for Travelers• 12 Life-Saving Travel Hacks for Your Next Trip
• The Ultimate Guide to Traveling with a CPAP Machine
• One Surefire Way to Spot Bedbugs in Your Hotel Room
• 7 Travel Hacks for Lazy People
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
Greece: 9-Night Vacation, Incl. Meteora &...
Exoticca
vacation $2099+Amsterdam to Copenhagen: Luxe, 18-Night Northern...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
cruise $12399+Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
Car Rental $19+