Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim joins fellow neighbor island mayors Michael Victorino of Maui and Derek Kawakami of Kaua‘i in pushing for a second COVID-19 test for incoming travelers to Hawai‘i.

Mayor Kim said on Tuesday he wants to establish a round of post-travel testing as well as pre-travel testing for COVID-19, to ensure the safety of the community as Hawai‘i tries to reopen amid the pandemic.

“I just don’t think we should take the risk with one COVID-19 test taken up to three days before travelling,” Mayor Kim said. “There are so many variables involved in a pre-travel test that could make the tests unreliable; we have to have a second test upon arrival in Hawai‘i.”

The number of potential positive cases being introduced to the community would pose too high of a risk, Mayor Kim said. Approximately 2,000 visitors are coming to Hawai‘i every day, with an estimated 5,000 arrivals a day once the one-test policy goes into effect.