Gatherings of five or less allowed under new order

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Mayor Caldwell held a news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 22 discussing the newest emergency order for O’ahu. Under the order, certain businesses will be allowed to resume operation with limitations and gatherings of five or less will be permitted.

The mayor shared how the new “tier system” referred to as a “recovery framework” aims to actively respond to the rise and decline in COVID-19 cases. The order includes four tiers, based on the amount of active cases, with the city planning to reopen in tier 1.

• Tier 1: Over 100 average case count.
• Tier 2: 50-100 average case count.
• Tier 3: 20-49 average case count.
• Tier 4: less than 20 average case count.

The city hopes the new measure will prevent having to pursue more drastic restrictions such as the “stay-at-home, work-from-home” order.

“It’s easy to move backwards. So if cases surge, we move back. If cases come down, we keep moving forward,” said Mayor Caldwell.

Under the new emergency order, which will go in effect on Thursday, Sept. 24:

• Social gatherings of up to five people will be permitted.
• Dine-in at restaurants will be available for groups of five or less, but members must be from the same household.
• Masks will be required when dining in at restaurants except when eating or drinking.
• Retailers, malls, museums and essential businesses will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity.
• Gyms will be allowed to reopen for outdoor activity only.
• Salons and barber shops will be allowed to reopen with certain limitations.
• Spiritual services may remain open at 50% capacity.

The order also states that public and private schools as well as colleges and universities will continue to operate as determined by the Hawai’i’s State Department of Education and the University of Hawai’i System.

Businesses still closed include bars, nightclubs, certain rentals and helicopter tours.

For more details, click here.