Kim urges evaluation of testing programs, fewer exemptions for travelers
Outgoing Mayor Harry Kim wants the state to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the Safe Travels Hawaii program as the mayor of Kauai pushes to remove that island from the program entirely.
Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami sent Gov. David Ige a request Tuesday asking to exclude Kauai from participation in the Safe Travels program, which allows travelers to skip an otherwise mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival with the presentation of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival.
Kauai, which reported three new COVID-19 cases throughout the entire month of September, has seen a significant spike in cases since the middle of October, when the Safe Travels program went into effect.
Kim said Wednesday that he has made no secret of his belief that the Safe Travels program has always been insufficient to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Hawaii.
Kim urges evaluation of testing programs, fewer exemptions for travelers
