Hawaii may remain closed to Mainland Visitors

Hawaii is getting ready to open up for US mainland tourism on August 1. It appears that arrival numbers are already steadily going up, even though the quarantine order for Hawaii is still in place until July 31.

Today 2,424 people arrived at Hawaii airports, including tourists and returning residents. Will all 2,424 passengers really observe a 2-week mandatory quarantine order? Judging by the number of people at Waikiki Beach, this may be questionable.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced a new City and County of Honolulu emergency regulation that requires everyone to always wear masks when outside their residence or hotel. The Mayor explained, “If you get a cup of coffee, wear your mask in the hallway, and you can take it off again when you return to your desk.”

The City and County of  Honolulu is working with the Hawaii Tourism Authority to educate arriving visitors, that they are required by law to protect Hawaii’s local communities and themselves by wearing a facial covering when outside their hotel rooms, offices, or homes.

Mayor Caldwell explained, “No one expects you to wear a mask when breathing deep in a gym while exercising, but when you wait at a machine, wear your mask.”

Not wearing a mask in the City and County of Honolulu is a class 2 misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine. Caldwell said he counts on everyone to work together before the Honolulu Police Department gets involved. Wearing a mask means keeping us safe!

Europe and Asia locked the doors to American visitors due to the alarming increase in new COVID-19 cases.

Today, Hawaii also recorded 20 more new cases, which is a record. However, comparing this to 54,328 new infections in the rest of the United States, the Aloha State has the lowest rate of infection and COVID-related deaths anywhere in the US.

When asked by eTurboNews/Hawaii News Online if Mayor Caldwell would be considering a delay in allowing visitors from the US Mainland to arrive without a requirement of quarantine after August 1, the Mayor said:

“There is no yes or no answer at this time. If we continue to see an upward in the number of infections in regions where Hawaii gets the bulk of our visitors from, I cannot imagine Governor Ige or my fellow mayors would hesitate to move the day up to allow visitors from the rest of our country to our shores. Today, our country had 54,328 additional coronavirus infections and 625 people have lost their lives. ”

625  is the number of passengers you would find on 2 sold-out wide-body airliners. Imagine the news coverage if 2 airliners crashed killing everyone onboard.

LATEST UPDATE: Non-medical grade face covering mandate approved for O‘ahu

By the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu (the “City”) pursuant to Revised Charter of the City and County of Honolulu 1973 (2017 Edition), as amended; the Revised Ordinances of the City and County of Honolulu 1990, as amended; the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, as amended (“Haw. Rev. Stat.”); the Constitution and laws of the State of Hawaiʻi (the “State”); I, KIRK W. CALDWELL, hereby issue this Amendment to Emergency Order No. 2020-17, Ho‘oulu i Honolulu 4.0 (“Order”), to further address the emergency declared in the Proclamation COVID-19 [Novel Coronavirus] that I issued on March 4, 2020, Supplemental Proclamation of Emergency or Disaster (COVID-19 [Novel Coronavirus]) that I issued on March 18, 2020, the Second Supplemental Proclamation of Emergency or Disaster (COVID-19 [Novel Coronavirus]) that I issued May 6, 2020, and the Third Supplemental Proclamation of Emergency or Disaster (COVID-19 [Novel Coronavirus]) that I issued June 20, 2020.
The Order is hereby amended by modifying Order 5 by adding the underlined language and deleting the strikethrough language as follows:

Order 5: Non-Medical Grade Face Coverings.

All individuals within the City shall wear face coverings while outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of six (6) feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.
All employees who work at businesses or perform services at Essential Businesses, as provided in Section II.F. of this Order, and Designated Businesses and Operations, as provided in Section II.G. of this Order, and City departments shall wear non-medical grade face coverings over their noses and mouths when engaged and interacting with customers, and visitors, and other employees of the Essential Business, Designated Business and Operation, or City department at issue.

All customers and visitors of businesses and organizations defined as Essential Businesses, as provided in Section II.F. of this Order, and Designated Businesses and Operations, as provided in Section II.G. of this Order, and City departments shall wear non-medical grade face coverings over their noses and mouths to provide additional protection for employees and customers of Essential Businesses, Designated Businesses and Operations, and City department at issue.

All passengers and users of public modes of transportation (TheBus and TheHandi-Van) shall wear non-medical grade face coverings over their noses and mouths when on board.

An owner or operator of an Essential Business under this Order, Section II.F. or Designated Business and Operation under this Order, Section II.G., or City department may refuse admission or service to any individual who fails to wear face coverings.

Face coverings under this Order may not be worn only under the following circumstances:

 Within banks, financial institutions, or using automated teller machines where the inability to verify the identity of the customer or visitor of the bank, financial institution or automated teller machine poses a security risk;  By individuals with medical conditions or disabilities where the wearing of a face covering may pose a health or safety risk to the individual;  By individuals engaging in physical activity outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained (e.g., walking, jogging, hiking, etc.);  By children under the age of 5;  By first responders (Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Emergency Services Department) to the extent that wearing nonmedical grade face coverings may impair or impede the safety of the first responder in the performance of his/her duty;  By children in childcare, educational, and similar facilities consistent with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) for such facilities;  As allowed by another provision of this Order. The wearing of face coverings under this Order is intended to complement, not serve as a substitute, for physical distancing and cleanliness. All individuals in the City must adhere to the Social Distancing Requirements to the extent applicable and feasible.

Definition: “Non-medical grade face covering” or “face covering” as used in this Order, means a tightly woven fabric without holes that is secured to the head with either ties or straps, or simply wrapped and tied around the wearer’s nose and mouth. It can be made of a variety of fabrics such as cotton, silk, or linen and may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or made from household items such handkerchiefs, scarfs, or shirts.

Recommendation: This Order requires non-medical grade face coverings to be worn in certain circumstances. Individuals who are unable to wear a non-medical grade face covering due to medical conditions or disabilities where the wearing of a face covering may pose a health or safety risk to the person are encouraged to wear a face shield instead. However, all individuals within the City are encouraged to wear non-medical grade face coverings over their noses and mouths when they are outside their homes and engaging with other people while performing Essential Activities, as provided in Section II.A. of this Order, even in circumstances where wearing non-medical grade face coverings is not legally required.

Any seller of non-medical grade face coverings or materials or supplies to make or manufacture such face coverings shall abide by Haw. Rev. Stat. § 127A-30.

The Order is hereby amended by modifying Exhibit A of the Order by adding the underlined language as follows:

3. Certain real estate services. … a. Restrictions: i. Any open house, brokers’ open, meeting with client(s), property viewings, inspections, appraisals, or similar events shall be limited in number of attendees in accordance with Order 3 of this Order, and comply with Social Distancing Requirements to the extent applicable and reasonably possible, except that all persons shall comply with the Non-Medical Grade Face Coverings requirements set forth in Order 5 of this Order. …

4. New and used car and truck dealerships – sales and leasing activities (with restrictions). Licensed new and used car and truck dealerships provided they first develop and implement appropriate COVID-19 mitigation plans and procedures consistent with City, State, and CDC guidelines, including but not limited to: measures to ensure compliance with Social Distancing Requirements to the extent applicable and reasonably possible, except that all persons shall comply with the Non-Medical Grade Face Coverings requirements set forth in Order 5 of this Order; and limitations on gatherings consistent with Order 3 of this Order.; …

8. Retail and service businesses provided all of the following: … b. Social Distancing Requirements (as defined in Section II.K.) are adhered to at all times to the extent applicable and reasonably practicable, except that all persons shall comply with the Non-Medical Grade Face Coverings requirements set forth in Order 5 of this Order. …

15. Business Offices. … b. Specific Requirements. i. The business shall ensure and promote compliance with the Social Distancing Requirements to the greatest extent applicable and reasonably possible, except that all persons shall comply with the Non-Medical Grade Face Coverings requirements set forth in Order 5 of this Order.

The Order is hereby amended by modifying Exhibit A, item No. 14, of the Order by deleting subsection b.ii. in its entirety and replacing with the following:

14. Personal service providers.
b. Specific Requirements. Personal Services Providers must:
ii. Ensure Social Distancing Requirements are adhered to at all times to the degree applicable and to the extent reasonably practicable. except that all persons shall comply with the Non-Medical Grade Face Coverings requirements set forth in Order 5 of this Order. Notwithstanding this requirement, customers may temporarily remove the face covering when necessary to complete the personal service at issue, and individuals who cannot wear a face covering due to a medical or health condition, and individuals under five (5) years of age are exempted from the requirement to wear a face covering.

The Order is further amended by replacing Exhibit A of the Order with the updated Exhibit A attached hereto. This amendment is made to require the usage of face coverings in certain circumstances, as provided in Order 5 of the Order and Exhibit A attached hereto. Except as expressly modified by this amendment, the Order remains in full force and effect.

This amended order shall be posted on the City website as soon as practicable in one or more appropriate places. This amended order shall be effective upon signing and remain posted while in effect.

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