The Maui News

New travel forms that will be required of interisland travelers starting Tuesday are now available on the state Department of Health’s website.

For the first time since April 1, travelers will not have to observe a 14-day self-quarantine after flying interisland. However, flyers will still need to fill out a form and undergo thermal screening at the airport. Anyone with a temperature above 100.4 degrees will not be allowed to board.

The form and information about the new procedures can be found at health.hawaii.gov/travel/. Those planning to travel can fill out the form ahead of time and bring it with them to the airport.

“I know family and friends across the state are looking forward to getting together when the interisland travel quarantine is lifted on Tuesday,” Gov. David Ige said in a news release Sunday. “Flying between islands will be a different experience. We ask for your patience as the new procedures are implemented.”

The new two-page form asks for such information as the traveler’s name, address, occupation, flight information and travel history outside of Hawaii within the last 14 days. It also asks if the traveler has experienced a wide range of symptoms related to COVID-19 and whether they have been in contact with a person confirmed to have the virus.

State officials are working toward an online format that will be linked to a QR code for expedited scanning and screening at the airport, but that option is not available yet, according to the Joint Information Center.

Just as in the times after 9/11, travelers are encouraged to get to the airport early to clear screenings, which include the submittal of the travel form and the temperature check prior to TSA screening.

Officials also urged travelers to continue physical distancing, using masks in public, washing their hands and staying home when sick.

On Saturday, Oahu reported a second day of “relatively high coronavirus case numbers” with 17. Two of those cases were related to a household cluster, where 12 people have now tested positive, the state said.

On Sunday, five new cases were reported statewide, including four on Oahu and one on Hawaii island.

There have now been 728 cases in the islands, including 493 on Oahu, 120 in Maui County, 82 on Hawaii island and 21 on Kauai. Twelve residents have been diagnosed out of state.

Oahu has seen a recent spike in cases of late, with 68 since the beginning of June.

“We always knew with the reopening of activities and businesses across the state we would see increases in coronavirus infections,” state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said Saturday. “Two of the cases reported today did require hospitalization but our statewide bed capacity remains strong. However, these new cases are reminders for all of us to maintain safe practices to prevent even higher case surges which could threaten our state’s health care capacity.”