HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii has fallen behind schedule in launching a new version of an app to collect traveler information needed to enforce coronavirus public safety measures.
The Hawaii Safe Travels app is aimed at allowing law enforcement and other officials to check on visitors who required to quarantine for 14 days after arriving in the state.
The scheduled completion date was Aug. 17 for Google and partner firm SpringML, but state officials said an initial release phase will be extended to the end of August. Travelers would complete an online form allowing state personnel at airports to review passenger information for clearance or secondary screening. The information would then be available for other officials to check on quarantined travelers.
The original application was operational for interisland travel in July. But it was scrapped when state officials were not satisfied the app could be scaled up for transpacific travel.
The state Office of Enterprise Technology Services hired Google and SpringML last month to develop a new version at an initial cost of $638,000 to be paid for with federal coronavirus recovery funds.