Hawaii Governor David Ige has asked asked visitors and residents to reduce travel to the islands while the state struggles to control COVID-19 as the highly contagious delta variant spreads in the community.

The Travel Industry Today report says while stopping short of a mandate, Gov. David Ige wants travel limited to essential business only through the end of October.

He said, “Our hospitals are reaching capacity and our ICUs are filling up”, adding, “Now is not a good time to travel to Hawaii,” and, “It will take six to seven weeks to see a significant change in the number of COVID cases”, and, “It is a risky time to be travelling right now”, adding, Everyone, residents and visitors alike, should reduce travel to essential business activities only.”