Vacaville woman arrested in Hawaii for breaking COVID quarantine
(Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
A Vacaville woman was one of four people arrested in Hawaii this week for breaking the state’s strict COVID-19 quarantine rules.
Vanessa Hamilton, 21, arrived in Hawaii without first receiving a negative pre-travel COVID-19 test and did not have proper accommodations that were compliant with Hawaii’s quarantine policies.
Hamilton’s arrest was first reported on Wednesday by Honolulu Fox affiliate KHON-TV (Channel 2). She was detained with three other individuals, including two from California and one from Colorado.
Last October, Hawaii required all out-of-state visitors to receive a pre-travel COVID-19 test with a negative result prior to their travel. Those who receive a negative test are exempt from Hawaii’s mandatory 14-day quarantine rule, which requires visitors to self-isolate with proper accommodations.
In addition to those requirements, several islands have their own COVID-19 testing and quarantine measures, including the island of Maui, which requires travelers from other Hawaiian islands to undergo similar testing and quarantine protocols.
It was this inter-island travel that caused issues for Hamilton and the other three travelers: They were accused by local authorities of traveling from Oahu to the island of Maui without getting a pre-flight COVID-19 test and without isolating as required under quarantine measures.
It was not clear why Hamilton and the other travelers skipped these requirements. They were arrested by local police and released on their own accord after agreeing to voluntarily fly back to Oahu, KHON-TV reported.
Hawaii has cracked down on travelers who usurp their COVID-19 prevention requirements, with dozens of people arrested since the tougher measures during an additional wave of coronavirus infections last year.
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