After the Center for Disease Control’s most recent guidelines easing mask restrictions for fully vaccinated Americans, Governor Ige said Hawaiʻi will continue to enforce mask wearing despite the new federal guidelines. In response, Hawaiʻi County Mitch Roth released a statement expressing his support for Governor Ige’s directive.
Below is Mayor Roth’s full statement:
“As vaccines have become available to the majority of our population here in Hawaiʻi County, we feel that it is time to begin relaxing many of the restrictions currently in place. That said, we must do so safely without jeopardizing our community’s health and safety. We must also do so together, as a state – four counties, with one clear vision. Therefore, our county will adhere to Governor Ige and the state’s directives while continuing to have regular conversations regarding proposed changes to our emergency rules. We have come so far over the course of the past year, and by doing things the right way for the right reasons, we will be able to return to normalcy and beat this virus once and for all. However, we cannot do so alone, and we look forward to continued support from our Governor, our mayors, and most importantly, from the community. This means wearing a mask, socially distancing, and doing all of the little things we have gotten so accustomed to until notified otherwise. It also means getting vaccinated so that we can get back to the things we love most, like contact sports, concerts, and other social gatherings, faster.”
