UPDATE: MARCH 22, 2020

EMERGENCY RULES AMENDED TO INCLUDE STAY-AT-HOME, WORK-FROM-HOME ORDER

MAUI STAY AT HOME ORDER STARTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25: Mayor Michael Victorino announced an update to Public Health Emergency Rules ordering those in Maui County to stay at home and work from home, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. This order will be in effect until April 30. ***(Scroll Down to  see full details on what the order entails)

Video: courtesy County of Maui (3.22.20 3:36 p.m.)

The emergency order applies to residents and visitors alike. “Critical services will still continue, such as fire, police, emergency, medical sewer and refuse,” said Mayor Victorino in a video statement.

“Everyone will still be able to get groceries and other essential products.  Essential businesses will also still be able to continue,” said Mayor Victorino, noting that more information on how the public will be affected will be shared soon.

Governor David Ige this evening issued a statement on recently announced county stay-at-home and work-at-home orders on Maui and Oʻahu saying:

“The mayors of the City and County of Honolulu and Maui have my full support for the stay-at-home, work-at-home orders they issued today. We have been working together on this issue, and this morning we agreed that the mayors should develop their own plans to meet the unique needs of their counties. We also agreed that statewide action will be needed. I have directed the Attorney General to review the orders other states have issued and prepare a statewide plan that will keep the people of Hawaii safe and healthy.”

Public Health Emergency Rules amended for residents to stay at home during COVID-19 crisis

Mayor Michael Victorino announced a “stay at home and work from home” amendment to the Public Health Emergency Rules in an effort to fight the spread of COVID-19.

The amendment is effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

The new order will be in effect until April 30.

“The health and safety of our community has always been my top priority and I believe we need to take bold actions if we are to stop the spread of this virus,” Mayor Victorino said. “I am ordering all our residents to stay at home and our visitors to stay in their rooms as much as possible. Critical services and operations will continue, and everyone will still be able to get groceries and essential supplies.

“However, we need to work together and continue to take care of each other with compassion and care.”

Overview of the new amendment:

Order to Stay/Work from home:

• Stay at home or place of lodging except for “essential activities,” “essential businesses” or “government operations”
• Where possible, County of Maui departments will employ tele-work and other methods to provide distancing, while ensuring continuity of services
• NO public or private gatherings outside the home
• Essential Activities include:
  • Essential to maintain health and safety, like getting medicine or seeing a doctor
  • Getting food, pet food, and supplies necessary for staying at home
  • Doing solitary outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking, or running
  • Performing work to operate an essential business or essential government function (defined below)
  • Caring for a family member in another household
  • Caring for elderly, minors, dependents, person with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons
• Travel limited to essential activities or operation of essential business or essential government function.

Government and Private Services or Businesses May Remain OPEN:

• First responders, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, law enforcement and County of Maui personnel
• Healthcare operations, including home health workers
• Essential infrastructure, including operation of public transportation and utilities
• Grocery stores, food banks, convenience stores
• Businesses that provide necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities
• Pharmacies, health care supply stores, and health care facilities
• Gas stations, auto repair facilities, and auto supply stores
• Financial institutions
• Refuse collection
• Hardware, lumber, and building materials stores
• Maintenance service providers, like plumbers, electricians, exterminators necessary to maintain safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and businesses
• Laundromats and laundry service providers
• Businesses that primarily ship or deliver groceries, food and goods
• Childcare facilities that enable essential employees to go to work
• Newspapers, television, radio, and other media
• Construction and maintenance, public and private
• Agricultural operations
• Businesses that supply other essential business with support or supplies necessary to operate
• Business conducting legally mandated activities
• Businesses that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for animals, including animal shelters, rescues, kennels, and adoption facilities
• Funeral, mortuary, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services, provided, the services provided must comply with Social Distancing Requirements at all times reasonably possible
• Public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities for distance learning and essential functions
• Businesses needed to support essential governmental or essential business functions
• Hotels, motels and support services

Public and Private Facilities and Businesses Required to CLOSE

• All businesses not listed as “essential businesses”
• Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to provide takeout and delivery service
• Bars, nightclubs, theaters, public gathering venues, and tourist attractions
• Gyms, recreation facilities, and other places of public gathering, regardless of size
• County parks, golf course and beach parks are ordered closed

Violation

• Violation of the rules is punishable as a misdemeanor, with fines of up to $5,000, up to a year in jail, or both.

“Decisive action is needed to stem the spread of COVID-19 and protect our healthcare resources, our hospital beds, respirators and the health and safety of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals,” Mayor Victorino said. “I humbly ask all of us to do our part to flatten the curve and come together as a community.”

For more information, visit the County of Maui’s website at mauicounty.gov.

PREVIOUS POST:

Mayor Michael Victorino announced a number of Public Health Emergency Rules effective as of 7:45 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2020, directed toward limiting the gathering of groups of people and curtailing vehicular transportation except for essential activities or operation of essential business or government functions, such as travel to and from work and medical appointments.

“I want to stress that these Rules are in line with CDC guidance in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our community” said Mayor Victorino. “We must collectively use our common-sense and do everything we can to help each other.”

The Rules are intended to enforce social distancing practices and limit gatherings of more than 10 people. This does not apply to gatherings at people’s homes, but the community is asked to strongly consider avoiding non-essential gatherings.

Mayor Victorino issued a list of clarifications this evening to facilitate better understanding of the rules.  The clarifications include the following:

Closures include:

• Bars
• Nightclubs
• Theaters
• Venues with large gatherings.  *(Business operations for tourist attractions, such as farms, breweries and wineries can maintain operations; however, public visits, tours or tastings should be closed).

Critical services and operations that shall remain open include:

• NOTE: Take-out and delivery only for restaurants and cafes
• Healthcare services (including dentists and veterinarians)
• Pharmaceutical suppliers and dispensaries (including cannabis dispensaries)
• Food supply and agriculture operations
• Financial service institutions.

Examples of businesses where social distancing is appropriate may include auto repair shops, construction and renovation sites, and small offices and businesses.

These Rules will be reassessed after 15 days, and modified as needed.

Businesses are urged to make themselves familiar with the CDC and OSHA guidance, which are available at coronavirus.gov and U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA) guidance for employers: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/

“Please continue to stay home if you or a family member are sick, and do not put others, especially our kupuna, at risk,” said Mayor Victorino. “The elderly and those with chronic conditions should stay home and our community should continue to implement increased sanitization practices.”

Law enforcement has been asked to take a compassionate and common-sense approach to enforcing the Rules.

All other businesses are asked to please use their best judgement. Any open businesses should implement social distancing measures.
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“We need to take dramatic action to limit the spread of this infectious virus,” Mayor Victorino said. “We cannot do this alone, so we’re asking our community to follow these rules and look out for one another as we face this unprecedented crisis.”

The rules require restaurants and cafes that serve food within the premises to close; however, take-out and delivery service may continue.

Bars, nightclubs, theaters, tourist attractions, and other venues where the public gather must remain closed.

Grocery stores, farmers markets, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores and gas stations that engage in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supply, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and other household consumer products, gasoline and products necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences may remain open.

Many stores are voluntarily providing dedicated kupuna shopping periods, especially in the morning hours, for those over 60 or those of any age with medical conditions. The rules require that all stores selling essential goods provide dedicated shopping hours for these higher-risk groups.

Essential activities, which are exempt from the rules, include:

1. Tasks essential to maintain health and safety, such as obtaining medicine or seeing a doctor;
2. Getting necessary services or supplies for an individual or that individual’s family or household members, such as getting food, pet food, and supplies necessary for staying at home;
3. Engaging in solitary or small group outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking, running or golfing provided that you maintain at least six feet of social distancing;
4. Performing work related to operation of an essential business or essential government function (defined below);
5. Caring for a family member in another household;
6. Caring for elderly, minors, dependents, person with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons.

Exemptions that relate to operation of essential business functions include:

1. Healthcare operations, including home health workers;
2. Essential infrastructure, including construction of housing and operation of public transportation and utilities;
3. Businesses that provide necessities of life for economically disadvantaged individuals and shelter facilities;
4. Pharmacies, health care supply stores, and health care facilities;
5. Gas stations and auto repair facilities;
6. Banks;
7. Rubbish collection;
8. Hardware stores, plumbers, electricians, and other service providers necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and businesses;
9. Laundromats and laundry service providers;
10. Businesses that primarily ship or deliver groceries, food, and goods;
11. Childcare facilities providing services that enable essential employees to go to work;
12. Roles required for any Essential Business to “maintain basic operations,” which include security, payroll, and similar activities.

“Although the County will make changes to its normal operations to safeguard employees and the public, the County will remain open to serve our residents and the business community,” said Mayor Victorino. “These rules are necessary not only to address the spread of the virus, but also to allow our first responders, emergency personnel, and medical professionals to perform their critical functions with as much community support as possible.”

Other provisions of the rules include suspension of regular meetings or hearings conducted by boards and commissions, although they may be conducted via alternate methods where possible.

The County is restricting travel on Piʻilani Highway from ʻUlupalakua to Kīpahulu and on Kahekili Highway from Waiheʻe to Kahakuloa village to local traffic only. The State Department of Transportation is also restricting travel on Hāna Highway from Kaupakalua Road to Hāna Town to local traffic only.

“While we take these actions, I am still encouraging our residents to go outside, go on a walk, get some exercise, and for this purpose, County beach parks will remain open at this time,” Mayor Victorino said. “I continue to ask the public to stop hoarding supplies, help your neighbor and remain calm as we face this crisis together.

“Maui County is on pandemic lockdown and we’re telling all visitors to reconsider their travel to the islands during this emergency. Please help us to keep our communities safe and minimize the spread of the coronavirus.”

General information and resources on COVID-19 (coronavirus) can be found on the County of Maui’s website at mauicounty.gov. For more information and updates, please visit the State DOH website at https://health.hawaii.gov/ and CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/.