LIHU‘E — While there are no new active COVID-19 cases on Kaua‘i as of Friday, Hawai‘i public health authorities said Friday 15 more people tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus statewide.
It was the largest single-day increase in about two months.
The state Department of Health said a total of 706 people have tested positive since the outbreak began. The number of deaths remained unchanged at 17.
Gov. David Ige imposed a statewide stay-at-home order in late March to control the spread of the virus. Restrictions were relaxed starting last month, allowing retailers and other businesses to reopen.
Hawai‘i has had relatively low infection rates compared to other U.S. states in part because it requires that travelers quarantine themselves for 14 days upon arrival.
The state plans to lift the quarantine mandate for interisland travelers on Tuesday. The governor has also been developing plans to lift the quarantine requirement for travelers coming from out of state which will allow the tourism industry to resume operations.
Kaua‘i bars and some legal short-term rentals are readying to reopen to people who are not subject to quarantine on Tuesday as well, with Mayor Derek Kawakami emphasizing Friday that interisland travelers who arrive on Kaua‘i any time before June 16 are subject to the mandatory quarantine.
“So if you visit Kaua‘i on Monday, June 15, you would still need to fulfill the quarantine for the full 14 days,” Kawakami said in a Friday public address.
“Again, those subject to a quarantine are not allowed to stay in a TVR (transient vacation rental) and must stay in a hotel or motel, pursuant to the governor’s ninth supplemental emergency proclamation.”
Bar operators must limit tables to six people unless they are from the same household. Those from the same household can be seated in groups of up to 10 people.
Groups must sit at least six feet apart from other groups and cannot intermingle. Bar employees must wear face coverings, and patrons should wear masks on entering and leaving the bar, but may remove them while in the bar.
To view the mayor’s emergency rule 12 or the governor’s ninth supplemental proclamation, which he issued on Wednesday, visit the county website, kauai.gov/COVID-19.
Friday, Kawakami also emphasized the use of masks and the need to minimize the spread of coronavirus in anticipation of increased inter-island travel.
•••
Jessica Else, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or jelse@thegardenisland.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
“patrons should wear masks on entering and leaving the bar, but may remove them while in the bar.” So let me get this straight; I can walk up to the outside of the bar without a mask, then I have to don the mask to walk into the bar, but once inside the bar I can take the mask off. Who makes this stuff up?