Travelers departing through the City of Nome for a tropical getaway in Hawaii are now able to fulfill their mandatory COVID-19 test in Nome. 

The Norton Sound Health Corporation announced today that they now have COVID-19 testing accepted by the state of Hawaii for incoming visitors. Hawaii requires travelers coming to the state to receive a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours before arrival in order to avoid a ten-day quarantine. But the state only accepts tests from certain vendors and, until now, NSHC has not been one of them. For Norton Sound residents, that often meant booking an extra day in Anchorage just to take a COVID-19 test. 

While the process of getting a test is now a lot easier for locals, NSHC Public Relations Manager Reba Lean says these COVID-19 tests must be booked by appointment. When booking online, patients must be certain to book the “Hawaii” option to ensure they will be given the correct test. Results can be uploaded into a phone app called COVIDSECURE and then uploaded online or printed and carried to the airport by hand.

Image at top: Hawaiian party Alaska Airlines jet, with the Alaska Airlines logo. Photo by Wonderlane is licensed under CC BY 2.0.