HONOLULU (Eagle News) – Beginning on Thursday, September 24, specified businesses and group activities, mostly of no more than five people, will be allowed to reopen or resume some normalcy as the City and County of Honolulu has launched a new framework to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on the Island of Oahu.

The new recovery framework, which Mayor Kirk Caldwell introduced on Tuesday, September 22, is based on increased knowledge of disease transmission, vulnerability, risk factors, and community compliance, all pursuant to the following goals:

1. to simplify the framework and communicate clear reduced disease transmission benchmarks for the city and its residents to work towards;
2. to reduce positive case transmission in Oahu to mitigate the current burden on the island’s local healthcare delivery system (and the future anticipated burden of influenza and COVID-19 infections in the late fall and winter); and
3. to reduce the likelihood of having to impose drastic restrictions (e.g., stay at home / work from home orders) on residents’ activities outside of their homes/dwellings.

The foundation of the framework rests on four tiers. Each tier is based on the level of community spread of COVID-19 within Oahu, which is determined by two criteria: (1) the number of daily cases reported; and (2) the positivity rate, using 7-day averages for both metrics over two or four week periods.

“Tier 1” represents a high level of community spread that is testing the limits of the public health system to test, contact trace, and isolate/quarantine; and puts some strain on the healthcare system.

“Tier 2” represents a level of community spread that is substantial, but still allows the public health system to adequately test, contact trace, and isolate/quarantine; and does not overburden the healthcare system.

“Tier 3” represents a moderate level of community spread that allows the public health system to fully test, contact trace, and isolate/quarantine; and does not overburden the healthcare system.

“Tier 4” represents a low level of community spread that is easily handled by the public health system and healthcare system.

Also starting on September 24, parks, beaches, and trails will be expanded for use by up to five persons for any lawful activity (e.g., exercise, reading, sunbathing, picnics, etc.). A permit will still be required from the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation to use any canopy-type structure in city parks. Rules regarding use of canopy-type structures in state parks and on state beaches will be determined by the state in coordination with the city and this framework.

In order to advance to the next tier, the City and County of Honolulu must meet the following:

1. have been in the current tier for at least four consecutive weeks; and
2. meet the First Metric criteria for that next tier for two consecutive (and most recent) weekly assessments; and
3. meet the Second Metric criteria for that next tier for two consecutive (and most recent) weekly assessments.

The city government may only move forward one tier at a time. If, however, after two consecutive weeks, the First Metric data suggests that the Oahu should be in a lower tier, the city would fall back into that tier. The city may also move backward more than one tier at a time.

(With reports from EBC Hawaii Bureau, Eagle News Service)