US Hawaii Considers Lifting Travel Restrictions... "Expected to Be Lifted in Spring"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The U.S. territory resort Hawaii is reportedly considering lifting travel restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 within a few months, according to reports by The Washington Post (WP) and others on the 9th (local time).

According to the report, Josh Green, Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, said in a phone interview that measures restricting Americans' visits to Hawaii are expected to be reduced starting this spring. He stated, "COVID-19 sometimes unfolds in unexpected ways. We did not anticipate the highly contagious Omicron variant at all," adding, "(If it weren't for the Omicron variant) these measures would have already been implemented."

Previously, Hawaii authorities announced that travel restrictions would be lifted once the vaccination rate reached 70% last year, but the plan was scrapped due to the spread of the Omicron variant. Currently, visitors to Hawaii must submit either a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative COVID-19 test result to avoid a five-day quarantine.

For Americans entering Hawaii from overseas, a negative test certificate conducted within 24 hours before departure is required, while foreigners must submit both a vaccination certificate and a negative test result.

On the 24th of last month, the number of confirmed cases with transmissibility in Hawaii reached 58,000 but dropped to 66% of that level by the 8th. Hawaii's full vaccination rate is over 75%, and 36% have also received booster shots.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.