In the midst of a global pandemic, the best way to keep yourself and others safe is to simply stay home. Hawaii State Department of Health indoor masking requirements remain in place pending further data. As long as tourism remains regulated, government mandates are clear and visitors respect them, I think we can achieve something of a balance.” Staying safe The Maannouncement comes as Hawaii’s counties end Covid restrictions on gatherings and vaccine/testing requirements for bars and restaurants and gyms and all of the other businesses hobbled by the pandemic restrictions. But tourism is our dominant industry, and there are countless other sectors tied to that, like the food supply chain, retail and restaurants. "It would be different if we had another major export. "We need to find an equilibrium between the safety and health of our community, and addressing the damage caused by the high rates of unemployment," says a hotel refurbishment contractor based on Oahu, who asked to remain anonymous. Studies also reveal that in the case of a “moderate spread,” Hawaii would need almost four times the number of its available hospital beds-a number that does not account for virus-stricken tourists.īut other locals argue it's not as simple as shutting visitors out. Whatever the case, the fact remains that the situation in Hawaii is still volatile, and the islands’ healthcare system is limited and ill-equipped to handle another surge. Though some health officials attribute the rising cases to community spread and not increased tourism, others argue that many of the recent cases are either directly or indirectly related to tourism. In the past month, cases in the state have continued to rise, with an average of 99 cases per day in the past seven days-a 36 percent increase from the average just two weeks earlier. “When kindly reminded by our volunteers about the mask mandate and handed a mask, we’ve been met with expletives, the middle finger, and even screaming.” "Most of the travelers we've encountered recently don't appear to care about COVID-19 or our emergency mandate,” adds Keen, who is a COVID-19 survivor herself. Similarly, reports of tourists gathering maskless on Waikiki Beach have been circulated on local news outlets, provoking ire among locals, who worry that tourists are using their home as a playground, with no respect for local regulations. Some have been concerned by groups of unmasked tourists crowding the trail to Koko Head despite the statewide mask mandate, putting the health of locals at risk. Reports of maskless tourists gathering on Waikiki Beach have been circulated by local news outlets.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |