Loading ...Back in March, after the first lockdown, Hawaii had the lowest COVID count in the nation. Then people got stupid and ‘celebrated’. Numbers over 200-plus daily from Honolulu have finally reached crisis point where ambulances are being diverted from some medical facilities. The Mayor today announced a return to full lockdown for Honolulu and Oahu island starting Thursday, for two weeks. Essential businesses only. Stay at home orders. This will put the death nail in the remaining few small businesses. City plans 5,000 tests daily… for free… if you suspect infection, get tested. Health dept. is ramping up to 500 contact tracers to handle the load.
This time they are getting serious. A Waikiki hotel with 130 rooms has been designated an official quarantine site, administered by the Dept. of Health, for quarantine of visitors and others with no place to go. One major homeless service center is already a homeless quarantine center. Lawbreakers will be issued a summons for a court appearance in addition to heavy fines. Not just a ticket… you will get a criminal record. Oh, yeah… the ‘correctional facility’ is heavily infected among the inmates and staff already, too. They let the nonviolent & clean inmates go release.
When the lockdown is lifted, it will be in slow phases to prevent crowd gatherings in public places.
Here on my Big Island, the health dept is tracking 56 active cases, and our numbers are single digit daily. But the warnings from Honolulu are clear. Don’t get careless. Wear your mask, and avoid gatherings or crowds.