(DailyExpertNews) — Hawaii’s Safe Travels program, designed to slow the spread of Covid-19 through traveler security measures, will end on March 25, the state governor announced.
Domestic passengers arriving in Hawaii after the program ends will not be required to follow previous regulations, such as showing proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test, to circumvent the quarantine, according to government David Ige.
“It’s important to remember that we’re only talking about domestic travel, not international travelers who have different requirements from the federal government,” Ige said on Tuesday. “It is also equally important to note that all requirements for safe travel must be met by inbound domestic passengers by March 25.”
International travelers 18 years and older who are not US citizens, US citizens, lawful permanent residents, or green card holders must be fully vaccinated to enter the US. Children 17 years and under are exempt.
All air passengers 2 years of age or older on a flight departing from another country to the US must present a negative result of a Covid-19 virus test taken no more than a day before travel, or provide documentation proving that they have recovered from Covid-19 within the last 90 days before boarding their flight.
Hawaii is one of a number of states easing Covid-19 restrictions as the number of cases and hospitalizations decline following the Omicron wave during the 2021 holiday season.
During the pandemic, Hawaii has maintained some of the strictest travel restrictions of any state and had relatively low Covid-19 rates compared to other states.
Officials continue to review the state’s indoor masking requirements, Ige said.
“Masks will remain mandatory for indoor workplaces and airports even if Safe Travels and employee vaccination and testing requirements disappear,” Ige said. “The pandemic is not over yet.”