In announcing new COVID rules, Hawaii County Mayor warns that island is at a turning point

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth announced stricter collection limits on Friday, but declined to call for a closure.

In the Big Island beach parks, small groups enjoyed Friday on the shore. But the pavilions were wrapped in yellow tape to deter meetings, one of COVID’s main sources of spread.

“The numbers (of cases) are outrageous,” said Big Island resident Jeremy Dutro.

Dutro says he usually sees big parties in the park, but not on Friday and that he is fine with the new restrictions. “I’m afraid to go to the shops, even with a mask on,” Dutro said.

Hawaii County saw 184 new cases of COVID on Friday.

Meanwhile, 78 people with COVID are hospitalized on the island. That’s an 18% increase in five days, according to the Hawaii emergency management agency.

Twenty of the 24 Big Island ICU beds are occupied, 16 with COVID patients.

“With an average of 132 cases a day, the Delta variant has toured our community, it has certainly started flooding our hospitals and health systems,” Roth said.

He added that a wide closure is possible if the rise worsens.

“We’ve been arguing over the last few weeks about stricter mandates and a complete closure,” Roth said. “We’ve reached a turning point.”

The new meeting limit for Hawaii County is 10 people indoors, 10 outdoors.

On beaches and parks, 10-foot pods with a 20-foot spacing are allowed. But no tents or canopies are allowed and permits for larger meetings are canceled.

“While he won’t be playing games right now, we hope you can exercise,” said Maurice Messina, director of the Hawaii County Parks and Recreation Department.

Fisherman Jeremy Lee supports the new restrictions and thinks the county should go even further.

“I used to do a lot of parties before, but because all of that happens, you have to stay away from all those meetings,” Lee said. “Better to protect than to regret.”

Copyright 2021 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.