Hawaii’s rural island of Kauai has seen a spike of COVID-19 cases since launching pre-travel testing to reignite the state’s decimated tourism industry. Hawaii's cautious reopening allowed travelers who tested negative for COVID-19 before they flew to the state to sidestep quarantine rules. With only nine ICU beds and 14 ventilators, the island's health care system could quickly become overwhelmed by a large outbreak, said Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami. Visitor numbers increased with the testing program, but only to about a third of pre-pandemic levels. Dr. Kapono Chong-Hanssen, who runs a Kauai community health center, said the single test requirement "goes against the medical evidence."

Source: Fox News December 21, 2020 01:41 UTC