Gov. Ige discusses new COVID-19 variant, vaccine roll-out and Safe Travels program

Gov. David Ige announced this morning on Spotlight Hawaii that state health officials have detected the South African variant of the coronavirus in the islands. He discussed contact tracing measures, and reemphasized the need for everyone in Hawaii to continue to wear masks and socially distance. Ige also discussed the vaccine rollout, potential changes to the Safe Travels program and interisland travel restrictions, and expressed his confidence in DOE Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto, who has been criticized by the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Thursday marks one year since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, and the governor also reflected on the moment last March, when he realized everything would change in Hawaii.