Maui Coronavirus Updates

Senator Dela Cruz asks Governor to Consider Pooled Testing for Arriving Travelers

Play
Listen to this Article
3 minutes
Loading Audio... Article will play after ad...
Playing in :00
A
A
A

Hawai‘i State Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and Special Committee on COVID-19, sent a letter to Governor David Ige encouraging the state to consider pooled testing of incoming travelers to Hawai‘i to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Pooled testing would allow the state to test more travelers using fewer tests, and allow for testing of presymtomatic and asymptomatic patients who do not have a fever at their time of arrival.

“I am hoping that as we keep the screening and quarantine in place, that the state would also develop alternatives to the quarantine in ensuring the health and safety of our community,” Chair Dela Cruz wrote. “Alternatives may include government authorized travel bubbles, taking tests upon arrival, and others that still need to be identified and researched. ‘Pool testing’ may be a consideration.”

Pooled testing is recommended by Dr. Darragh O’Carroll, an emergency medicine physician at Kuakini Medical Center. Chair Dela Cruz included a letter from Dr. O’Carroll explaining pooled testing.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

“Samples from up to thirty individuals are pooled and tested together in a single tube using sensitive molecular biological detection methods,” wrote Dr. O’Carroll. “Only if the pool result is positive do the samples need to be tested individually. When the infection rate is low and only a few people are infected, pool testing can significantly expand the testing capacity of existing laboratory infrastructure.”

“This new testing approach would further ensure that we can increase our capacity to test all travelers in a cost-effective way,” Chair Dela Cruz wrote. He recommended that the Hawai‘i Department of Health purchase an additional 3,000 to 5,000 tests to be administered daily to visitors.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said he supports pre-testing before visitors leave their destination, not after arrival.  In a press conference this afternoon, he said, “Once you get on a plane, it’s about a five to six hour flight to Hawaiʻi, no matter which destination you are bound for–Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui County or Hawaiʻi Island.  With that being said, that’s five or six hours you could spread to a number of people.”

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

“Until that is put into place, I am not really inclined to wanting to open up to everybody from the mainland or from travel destinations–what we call bubble travel.  I’m considering all aspects, but testing before they leave and showing that they’re COVID-19 free at that movement is really what I’d like to be see done,” said Victorino.

Dr. Carroll explained the need to test visitors who do not have symptoms:

“New understanding from studies conducted by the CDC shows 40 percent of disease transmission occurs prior to symptom onset, in which infected individuals are unknowingly contagious prior to developing typical symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or pneumonia, collectively known as presymptomatic. This research also shows that the coronavirus can be spread three days prior to an individual becoming sick, with viral loads even peaking before symptoms begin. Furthermore, up to one third of individuals will never develop any symptoms, but remain contagious for some time, collectively known as asymptomatic. It is crucial that these presymptomatic and asymptomatic patients are identified, as this allows for the early prevention of infection hotspots, and will lead to isolation of infected individuals.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD

“An article in Scientific American also details how the pooled testing approach effectively identifies presymptomatic and asymptomatic carriers, and can accomplish it in large numbers in order to meet the high demand for screening.  Sans a vaccine, the pooled testing approach ‘is trying to do more with the same number of tests.’”

ADVERTISEMENT

Sponsored Content

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Stay in-the-know with daily or weekly
headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Cancel
×

Comments

This comments section is a public community forum for the purpose of free expression. Although Maui Now encourages respectful communication only, some content may be considered offensive. Please view at your own discretion. View Comments