Maui and O’ahu will begin requiring health passes next week to certify that individuals are vaccinated before they are permitted to enter certain venues. The passes can also indicate that the holder has tested negative for the virus if they are unvaccinated.
O’ahu will begin requiring the passes from September 13 for people seeking to enter restaurants or bars, or visit a museum, cinema, theather, arcade, gym or similar indoor venue. Called the Safe Access O’ahu program, it will be required of all patrons and employees of such establishments to show proof of full vaccination from COVID-19, or a negative result from a test taken within the last 48 hours. Children under the age of 12 are exempt.
People visiting a restaurant for less than 15 minutes i.e. to collect take-away food or drinks are also exempt.
Read more: What you need to know about traveling to Hawaii right now
Officials are implementing a 10pm cut-off time for the sale of alcohol in places such as bars and restaurants in Oahu ©Theodore Trimmer/Shutterstock
The program is a way to avoid a new lockdown in the face of fast-rising COVID-19 infections and curb the spread of the Delta variant. Mayor Rick Blangiardi said the program will be in place for 60 days as officials test its effectiveness.
“I really want this to come off as really more common sense and appeal in what we’re trying to do to combat this Delta variant and where we are with case counts, and really for the sake of the community,” Blangiardi told reporters.
In addition to the Safe Access O’ahu program, officials are implementing a 10pm cut-off time for alcohol sales at establishments that sell alcohol for “on-premises consumption” such as bars and restaurants.
The rules will come into effect next week.©EQRoy/Shutterstock
How to present proof of vaccination
Proof of full vaccination means that two weeks have passed since your final recommended vaccination dose. To present that proof you’ll need a hard copy of a state-approved vaccination card such as the white Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) card; a photograph or mobile version of the vaccination card; or a digital device confirming full vaccination status including the Hawaii Safe Travels mobile app.
Proof of a vaccination administered outside the United States will not be accepted.
Meanwhile Maui is preparing to implement a similar scheme on September 15. While full details are expected to be announced on September 7, Maui’s mayor Michael Victorino indicated that the health pass will be required at restaurants across the county.
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