Maui County in Hawaii will soon require second coronavirus tests for trans-Pacific travellers flying directly to the island. In addition to the current state-required pre-travel tests, people flying into Maui from outside Hawaii will now be required to get negative coronavirus tests when arriving at the Kahului Airport to avoid quarantine.

People who refuse either test will be required to quarantine for 10 days in Maui. The pre-travel virus tests must occur at most 72 hours before passengers take their flights.

“This secondary test has been designed to determine if visitors and returning residents are contributing to the large rate of COVID-19 here in Maui,” Maui mayor Michael Victorino said, adding that program will be implemented later this month.

A study conducted in November by Maui health officials found that two out of every 281 travellers who consented to second, follow-up coronavirus tests at the airport tested positive.