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Another sweeping ‘stay-at-home’ order on Oahu

Source: Hawaii News Now

Honolulu, HAWAII — The Hawaii governor has approved another sweeping “stay-at-home” order for Oahu starting Thursday in a dramatic bid to rein in a surge of new COVID-19 cases.

The order, which was described as similar to the one issued in March, will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and remain in place for two weeks. It allows essential businesses to stay open, including child care and some educational services, construction, and health care. Religious services will also be allowed.

But businesses not considered essential will have to close.

The list of non-essential businesses includes retailers, personal services (like salons and barber shops), gyms, and restaurants, which will have to revert to takeout only. Beaches and parks will also remain closed.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said during the shutdown the city and state plan to significant ramp up testing — conducting 60,000 tests in 12 days — to be able to reopen safely. Officials said authorities will also use the time to bolster contact tracing programs and improve quarantine and isolation measures.

“Everybody has to do their part and for the most part people are,” Caldwell said. “We can do this ... and when we reopen it will be different this time.”

US Surgeon General Jerome Adams was also at the news conference, and discussed the terrible toll COVID-19 has taken on some communities, including Pacific Islanders. They make up just 4% of Hawaii’s population but 30% of the state’s cases.

 

Read more at Hawaii News Now