Post-flight testing at Kona airport to be scaled back tomorrow

The post-flight COVID-19 testing program for travelers arriving to the Big Island will be scaled back tomorrow, Mayor Harry Kim told the Tribune-Herald today.

Since the post-flight testing program — which allows travelers to skip a 14-day quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19 immediately after arrival — began on Oct. 15, only 17 travelers have tested COVID-positive out of more than 12,000 tests, Kim said.

While Kim said the tests remain important for developing a statistical model of the spread of COVID-19 on the island, the program will be scaled back, partly because of the substantial financial and logistical costs of maintaining the program.

Under the new model of the program, up to 25% of arriving travelers at Ellison Onizuka International Airport will receive COVID-19 antigen tests at the airport. While Kim said the county Corporation Counsel is still determining how the 25% will be selected — adding that the county does not wish to break up arriving families by testing one family member — he did say that the tests would not be voluntary.

Meanwhile, the program will remain in place as-is at Hilo International Airport, with tests conducted on all arriving travelers. Kim said the relatively low traffic through Hilo airport — only about 10% of all tests so far have been conducted in Hilo — makes it easier to maintain the program there.

See the Friday edition of the Tribune-Herald for more information.