Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami continues to battle for his island
on how finest to get journey up and working. Mayor Kawakami had proposed a post-arrival
take a look at program, however this was shot down by Governor Ige.
Since then, the Kauai Mayor has proposed Rule 19 to the
Governor. Mayor Kawakami despatched proposed Mayor’s Emergency Rule 19 to Governor
Ige on October 8 which might create a tier system just like the one already
authorised for Oahu. Proposed Rule 19 consists of safeguards to mitigate the unfold
of COVID-19 within the occasion of a rise in circumstances on Kauai.
If authorised, this rule permits Kauai to maneuver ahead with the
state’s pre-travel testing program on October 15. Additional, it identifies the
level at which Kauai would decide out of the state’s pre-travel take a look at plan and
proceed the 14-day necessary quarantine for incoming arrivals.
“Many have requested my response to the Governor’s provide for
counties to ‘decide out’ of the state’s pre-travel testing program,” mentioned Mayor
Kawakami. “It has by no means been our intention to decide out of the state’s program,
however moderately to complement this system in a means that meets our county’s distinctive
wants. We preserve {that a} pre- and post-arrival testing program is the most secure
choice for our residents and guests, and we are going to proceed to work with the
state to realize that objective.
“In mild of Kauai’s post-arrival testing program (Rule 18)
being denied by the Governor earlier this week, we’ve got continued to work with
our well being officers and different companions to take a phased, accountable method
to reopening our financial system whereas retaining our island secure.”
The 4 tiers of Rule 19
Mayor Kawakami’s proposed Emergency Rule 19 offers a
four-tiered system to outline allowable companies and actions, primarily based on the
present illness outlook on Kauai at the moment.
• Tier 1 is essentially the most restrictive tier. It goes into
impact if there’s a one-week common of eight or extra each day COVID-19 circumstances. No
pre-testing quarantine exemptions might be allowed.
• Tier 2 assumes that the seven-day common of each day
COVID-19 circumstances is between 5 to eight circumstances. Shifting into this tier would
mechanically set off Kauai to decide out of the state’s pre-travel testing
program and proceed a 14-day necessary quarantine for incoming vacationers.
• Tier 3 assumes a weekly common of two to 4
each day COVID-19 circumstances. At this degree, transpacific vacationers will be capable to
pre-test out of quarantine, per the state’s journey plan. Restrictions comparable to
additional limiting the dimensions of gatherings and receptions could be put in place.
• Tier 4 is the least restrictive and is the present
degree on Kauai: a mean of lower than two each day lively circumstances. It permits
practically all companies and actions to function with minimal restrictions. It
makes use of the state’s 72-hour pre-arrival take a look at program to permit transpacific
vacationers a quarantine exemption.
“By opting in to the state’s pre-travel take a look at plan, the
county can also be opting in to Lt. Gov. Inexperienced’s recently-announced surveillance
program, which is able to provide an extra layer of testing right here on island,” mentioned
Mayor Kawakami. “We stay up for studying extra about this program.
“Kauai continues to work with our personal business companions
to assist promote a voluntary post-arrival testing program right here on Kauai. We’ll
announce extra on that marketing campaign within the coming days.
“In all tiers, we should proceed to put on masks, follow
bodily distancing, and keep away from massive gatherings. We all know these to be essentially the most
efficient means for us to guard ourselves and people round us from spreading
COVID-19.
“We perceive that October 15 is rapidly approaching, and
we are going to announce extra particulars on the standing of proposed Mayor’s Emergency Rule
19 as updates turn into accessible.”
Nonetheless ready for approval or response
When contacted by hawaiinews.on-line about this proposed
rule, Mayor Kawakami’s workplace responded with the next further informational
assertion:
As you realize, the Governor’s new pre-travel take a look at program for
Mainland vacationers goes into impact Thursday, October 15. In mild of our
post-arrival take a look at proposal being denied, we submitted proposed Rule 19 final
week Thursday.
Whereas we nonetheless preserve that our proposal for a compulsory
second post-arrival take a look at is the most secure choice for us, Rule 19 would mix a
voluntary testing program with a tiered system for responding to outbreaks. We
proceed to await the Governor’s approval of our proposed Rule 19 and can
replace the general public as we’re up to date.
We’ve got loved many months of low to no case numbers, and
it’s inevitable that we’ll see an increase in circumstances within the coming weeks and
months. Our Incident Administration Staff will do all the pieces attainable to assist
shield our neighborhood and hold our case numbers to a manageable degree in order that
we are able to keep away from future shutdowns or tighter restrictions.
However, as we’ve mentioned many occasions, all of us have management over
managing this virus. Each considered one of us has a accountability to guard
ourselves and people round us. We will do that by following quite simple steps
after we go away our dwelling. Put on your masks anytime you’re with individuals you don’t
stay with – this consists of shut family and friends. Hold your bodily
distance. Keep away from massive gatherings, however when you MUST collect, keep exterior.
These are the perfect instruments we’ve got in our toolbox.
For extra data on the Governor’s quarantine guidelines or the state’s pre-travel testing program, please go to the state’s web site at hawaiicovid19.com
