Hawaii's Quarantine Policy Upheld by Federal Judge

The Hawaii quarantine policy has been upheld by a federal judge Friday, which will continue to allow the state to require arriving travelers to isolate for 14 days, The Hill reported.

U.S. District Judge Jill Otake ruled the quarantine policy for out-of-state travelers and Hawaii residents does not restrict people from traveling. She also found people who sued to invalidate the policy "have elected not to travel — whether to or from Hawaii — because they do not want to be quarantined."

The suit was filed by residents from Hawaii, California, and Nevada who claimed the rule infringed on their right to travel freely.

The judge's decision arrives as a spike in coronavirus has hit the United States, with the majority of cases occurring in Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas.

Otake ruled, Hawaii "imposed the quarantine to prevent the importation and spread of COVID-19 and to avoid overwhelming the healthcare system, which are compelling state interests."

So far, Hawaii has had 1,023 confirmed coronavirus cases including 19 people deaths.

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