‘Beyond Recovery’: A careful, phased approach
Posted on May 29, 2020 in Capitol Connection, Featured
The ‘Beyond Recovery: Reopening Hawai’i’ strategy outlines a phased approach to ensure safety.
In color-coded detail, Governor Ige unveiled a phased, long-term strategy for jumpstarting Hawai‘i’s economy while urging everyone to continue to protect each other. The “Beyond Recovery: Reopening Hawai‘i” plan continues the reopening of the “kamaʻāina economy” in June, starting with medium-risk, followed by high-risk businesses. The list includes hair salons, restaurants for dining-in, gyms, places of worship, theaters and museums. Large venues, bars and clubs will be considered for a later phase, as the highest level of risk. All businesses are asked to follow Centers for Disease Control, industry, and Department of Health guidelines to ensure safety for customers and employees.
The reopening strategy, outlined in the governor’s 8th Supplementary Emergency Proclamation, leaves the specific timing of reopening certain businesses and operations to the county mayors, with approval from the governor. It also extends the 14-day quarantine for arriving passengers, including interisland travelers, and the moratorium on residential evictions through June 30. The reopening of highest-risk businesses and operations will eventually follow, as long as the state’s disease activity remains manageable.
The governor thanked the people of Hawai‘i for the progress the state has been able to make. “The results speak for themselves,” he said. “Because of our safe practices like wearing face coverings and physical distancing, we have the lowest fatality rate in the nation and one of the lowest new case counts. ‘Act with Care’ means exactly that. It is up to all of us — the businesses and the general public — to make sure we continue to keep each other safe.” Risk factors include the size of the space, the number and duration of contacts and limiting interaction through physical distancing and other precautions. To see the entire “Reopening Hawai‘i” strategy, go to https://governorige.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Gov_Reopening-Presentation-Slide-Deck_18-May-2020.pdf.