Hawaii to end more restrictions as state continues to monitor Omicron situation

(FILE) In line with the State’s updated COVID-19 safety guidelines, the City and County of Honolulu has allowed restaurants like this one in Waikiki to operate at full capacity while requiring staff and customers to wear masks when indoors. (Photo by Alfred Acenas, EBC Hawaii-Pacific Bureau, Eagle News Service)

By Alfred Acenas
EBC Hawaii-Pacific Bureau

HONOLULU (Eagle News) – The State of Hawaii and county governments are staying the course to lift additional limitations beginning in December as new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rates continue to trend downward; while also expressing concerns of a new COVID-19 variant that has just been confirmed in Japan, the Aloha State’s top foreign visitor market.

“While we are moving forward with updated emergency measures, we must remain vigilant. The Omicron variant will likely be detected in the United States,” said Governor David Ige. “Hawaii has a robust surveillance system. Our State Laboratories Division has the capacity to conduct whole genomic sequencing to detect variants.”

Governor Ige further assured that the Omicron variant has not reached Hawaii, and that his administration will closely monitor the situation and confirm the variant’s presence as soon as it is identified.

Starting December 1, county mayors will no longer be required to obtain approval from the governor or from the director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) when issuing county-level emergency orders, rules, or proclamations. The counties will continue to have direct responsibility for their respective emergency management programs.

Statewide limits for social gatherings, restaurants, social establishments, and gyms will end on December 1 as well. Each county will then implement its own safety protocols appropriate for its communities.

The governor renewed his call for residents to get vaccinated. He encouraged fully vaccinated adults aged 18 and over to get their booster shots if at least six months have passed since the completion of their vaccination regimen.

(FILE) Visitors take photos of a lighted “Waikiki” sign at International Marketplace. (Photo by Alfred Acenas, EBC Hawaii-Pacific Bureau, Eagle News Service)

The state said that the following basic measures have proven to be effective and will remain in place until the next COVID-19 emergency proclamation sometime in early 2022:

  • Hawaii Safe Travels Program;
  • Indoor mask mandate;
  • Vaccination or testing requirements for state executive and county employees; and
  • Vaccination or testing requirements for contractors and visitors to state facilities.

(Eagle News Service)