Hope looms on the horizon as COVID-19 vaccinations continue in Hawaii and across the country, but the guidelines issued by the state to keep the pandemic in check remain the same for now.
Governor David Ige released an 18th emergency proclamation on Friday recognizing the new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which no longer require vaccinated individuals to meet certain quarantine criteria.
But this exception will not yet be formally made for travelers to Hawaii.
Ige, in a press release, said the state will await specific guidance from the CDC “before implementing a quarantine exception for vaccinated travelers.”
Health Department officials reported Friday a new coronavirus-related death and 70 new infections, bringing the state’s total since the pandemic began to 425 deaths and 26,743 cases.
The death on Oahu was a 60-year-old man with underlying diseases who had been hospitalized, officials said.
The new cases reported on Friday by the department include 33 on Oahu, 25 on Maui, five on the island of Hawaii and seven residents diagnosed outside the state.
Also on Friday, the governor passed the third amendment and reaffirmation of the order of the city and county of Honolulu, keeping Oahu within Level 2, where it has been since October.
Under Level 2 restrictions, up to five people can dine together in a restaurant, without being from the same family, and personal care services and short-term legal rentals can operate. In addition, gyms and fitness facilities can operate indoors with 25% capacity, and indoor physical activity classes are limited to a maximum of five people and outdoor classes to a maximum of 10 people. Current rules on facial masks and social detachment remain in effect.
The order of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi does not alter the four-tier structure to reopen the island’s commercial, social and community activities established by former Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
The order takes effect on Monday and will remain in effect until at least March 15, unless Oahu’s metrics move it to another level earlier.
Friday’s average seven-day case count for Oahu was 45, and the seven-day average positivity rate was 1.5%, according to Blan-giardi. For Oahu to move to less restrictive Tier 3, the seven-day average of new cases must be less than 50 on two consecutive Wednesdays and the seven-day average positivity rate must be less than 2.5%.
Blangiardi said that while he is looking forward to working with Ige and the state Department of Health to further loosen restrictions on certain businesses and operations, there is concern about an increase in COVID-19 cases after the Super Bowl weekend. .
“The health and safety of everyone in the city and in Honolulu County remains our top priority and I want to move forward in a deliberate and science-based way,” he said in a statement. “Successfully minimizing the spread of this virus during times like Super Bowl weekend, Valentine’s Day and beyond, is the key to getting Oahu back to work, school and community activities that we desperately need.
Blangiardi had previously mentioned that he hoped to ease the restrictions for bar owners, as well as for outdoor youth team sports, both allowed only on Level 4.
As of Thursday, 236,649 COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the state, according to preliminary DOH statistics. Approximately 10.8% of the population received at least one dose.
Health officials also reported 1,034 active cases across the state, 44 less than the previous count. By island, Oahu has 738 active cases, Maui has 224, the island of Hawaii has 66, Kauai has three, Lanai has two and Molokai has one.
Of all confirmed Hawaii infection cases, 1,779 required hospitalization, with four new hospitalizations reported on Friday by state health officials. Four hospitalizations in the state count are Hawaii residents who have been diagnosed and treated outside the state.
According to Hawaii’s COVID-19 data panel, 49 patients with the virus were in Hawaii hospitals on Thursday morning, 14 in intensive care units and 12 on ventilators.
18th Gov. Ige Proclamation… by Honolulu Star-Advertiser