Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has announced that limited use of outdoor sports fields and courts, as well as drive-in religious or spiritual services, will be allowed starting Friday. Caldwell issued an emergency order called Restore Honolulu 2.0 on Wednesday afternoon.
The order says people may participate in one-on-one sports and exercise activities where “it is both possible and reasonable” for participants to maintain 6 feet of physical distance including singles tennis, singles pickle ball, yoga and tai chi. Basketball and other team sports or one-on-one sports with close contact are prohibited. Participants would also be required to wear non-medical grade face coverings unless they’re actually playing.
Public and private gatherings of people other than those living in the same family unit are prohibited.
Caldwell in a press conference Thursday said he supports extending the 14-day quarantine for travelers through June 30. Kaua’i Mayor Derek Kawakami issued an order extending the 14-day travel quarantine through June 30, with Gov. David Ige’s approval. Caldwell’s order has notes that Gov. Ige has approved the release. In a Thursday press conference, Gov. Ige said he’s planning on extending the quarantine through June 30, though he has not issued the order yet.
At the press conference he also said he’d like to see restaurants able to reopen on June 5, with restrictions related to social distancing and hygiene. Caldwell said restaurants would be allowed to have outdoor or sidewalk dining to help with distancing. Caldwell also is asking the Governor to allow O’ahu beaches to reopen with distancing guidelines in place. Caldwell said he’s in discussion with Gov. Ige on a number of issues.
Governor Ige requires Mayors to get approval before issuing orders related to reopening businesses or facilities, anything related to the COVID-19 situation.
O’ahu has had the highest number of cases of COVID-19–not unusual considering more than 1 million people live on the island. The count currently stands at 414, with 37 active cases now. There have been 11 deaths and 56 hospitalizations on the island. But today there are no new cases reported and the case count has been in the low single digits or zero for the past two weeks.
