In this series, we’ll be sharing operator submitted COVID ops questions. Have a question you’d like us to focus on? Send it to operationalinsights@univ-wea.com.

Question:

We’re operating to Mauri and would like to avoid the 14-day quarantine once we arrive. As I understand it, a negative COVID test result will not be accepted if it is conducted in Canada. The test must be done at one of the listed providers which all appear to be on the West Coast of the United States. Is this the correct interpretation?

If we were to fly to Seattle first and have the COVID test done by one of the listed providers and upload the result to the My Safe Hawaii app would this negate the need for quarantine?

As our passengers own a residence on the island is it possible to book a COVID test to be conducted at their home on arrival? Once the negative test result came in would they be removed from the quarantine list?

If the crew stays the duration of the visit. 7-10 days are they exempt from quarantine or would they also have to provide a negative COVID test?

Answer:

Avoiding quarantine when entering Hawaii is possible as of Oct. 15, 2020 when the state rolled out its pre-arrival testing program.

The operator is correct that Hawaii has a specific list of approved C19 testing providers that you must use.

There are major chains included on the list such as Quest, CVS Health, and Walgreens. The operator could have the test done in Canada, as long as it’s by one of the approved testing providers.

The website does call out one company, Vault Health, as a take-at-home testing option: https://learn.vaulthealth.com/state-of-hawaii/ with Zoom supervision of sample collection.

Quest also has at-home testing, but that testing isn’t specifically stated on Hawaii’s site, so vault is probably the safer option.

Keep in mind that all travelers arriving in Hawaii are still required to have a temperature check and complete a Travel Declaration Form. Proclamations restricting flights from U.S. suspended regions still apply.