Gov. Ige approves Kawakami’s ‘Resort Bubble’

LIHU‘E — Mayor Derek Kawakami has penned a new emergency rule which establishes an enhanced-movement quarantine, or “resort bubble” program.

Gov. David Ige signed off on Kawakami’s emergency rule 16 authorizing the enhanced-movement quarantine program, which would permit visitors to leave their hotel rooms to utilize the entire resort property during their mandatory quarantine period.

The resort bubble concept is a voluntary program for both the resort to participate in and the visitor who stays there.

In order to participate, resorts must establish security and enforcement policies to protect the safety of both guests and employees of the resort. Security and enforcement are the responsibility of the resort, and all rules, such as mask-wearing and physical-distancing, must be followed.

Visitors who wish to stay at an enhanced-movement quarantine resort must agree to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet that is tracked by the resort. If the monitoring unit is tampered with or the visitor leaves the resort property, hotel security will notify the Kaua‘i Police Department for enforcement.

Any person violating any rule of the governor or mayor, if convicted, could face a fine of up to $5,000 or serve up to a year in jail, or both.

Several Kaua‘i hotels have expressed interest in participating in the program, but no launch date has yet been determined, as stakeholder discussions are ongoing. Updates on the enhanced-movement quarantine, or resort bubble program, will be announced as more information becomes available.

To view the governor’s proclamations, the mayor’s emergency rules, and for local updates on Kaua‘i’s coronavirus response, visit the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency website: kauai.gov/COVID-19.

State COVID update

Tuesday, the state Department of Health reported one death and 66 new positive cases in the state. This includes six cases on Hawai‘i Island and 60 on O‘ahu. Kaua‘i does not have any active cases, but has five people on a close-contact quarantine for a case reported on O‘ahu.

The death was an O‘ahu man with underlying health conditions who had been hospitalized. He is the 100th person to die from coronavirus-associated illnesses since the pandemic began in late February. He was in the 60-to-69-year age group, according to a press release.

As of Tuesday, the state recorded 6,859 active cases statewide, with a total of 3,885 patients classified by health officials as “released from isolation.”

This brings the state’s cumulative total to 10,844 cases statewide. One previous case was removed due to updated laboratory information.

Lt. Gov. update

Lt. Gov. Josh Green and two deputy sheriffs remain the only three positive COVID-19 cases in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. All 11 other employees have tested negative.

Additionally, Green’s wife and two children have tested negative. Everyone will remain in quarantine until cleared by DOH investigators.