Hawai‘i COVID-19 News Update – December 10, 2021
Aloha,
Here are the latest COVID-19 news and issues facing Hawai'i that you need to know this week.
Despite new reports of Omicron cases and clusters across the state, Governor Ige says he has no plans to change the current restrictions and guidelines.
- When asked if he'll tighten restrictions due to the Omicron variant, Governor Ige said, "I'm encouraged because we see strong demands for vaccinations. We see a very strong desire for boosters for those who are fully vaccinated. By talking with health experts from South Africa and in the US, the Omicron variant doesn't appear to be more deadly or increase the severity of the disease. So we continue to be hopeful."
- On Friday, the Department of Health reported it detected 12 new cases of the Omicron variant on O‘ahu.
- State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble said this about the new cases, “Most of the infected individuals have no known connection with one another. This indicates the Omicron variant is spreading deeper into our communities.”
- As of today, the state is also investigating 15 COVID-19 clusters across the islands. The majority – four clusters – occurred in Maui’s travel, lodging and tourism sectors in the past two weeks.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health expands booster shot eligibility to 16 and 17-year-olds and urges testing ahead of the holiday season.
- Health officials said teens aged 16 and 17 could get a booster after at least six months of receiving their two-dose Pfizer vaccine.
- In a news release, DOH said, “The recent emergence of the Omicron variant underscores the importance of vaccination and boosters. According to the CDC, strong immunity, such as that provided by a booster, will likely prevent severe illness.”
- Around 72.4% of Hawai‘i’s eligible population is fully vaccinated, while 77.9% of state residents have had at least one dose. Nearly 276,171 residents have also received their COVID-19 booster shots.
- Meanwhile, the City and County of Honolulu officials say they will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing for Oʻahu residents at the Blaisdell Center and Waikīkī Shell with walk-in and drive-thru options. You can register here.
Local restaurant owners are taking advantage of negotiable rents at move-in-ready locations with the hope of bouncing back following the challenges of the pandemic.
- Many Hawaiʻi restaurants saw an opportunity to set up shop in Waikīkī thanks to the reduced rent and vacancies. Following the wave of pandemic-related closures, Waikīkī saw more than 15 restaurant openings and significant expansions and reinvestment.
- Hawaiʻi restaurateur Kevin Aoki said, "People can see the writing on the wall. There are a lot of customers and not enough restaurants and Waikiki. It will always come back like New York City.”
- A Hawaiʻi Business Magazine piece examined how the pandemic changed restaurants in Hawai‘i. People inside the industry describe their struggles, innovations and hopes for the future. This includes lay-offs during the height of the virus, the struggle to get employees back to work now, and the focus on take-out dining.
Mahalo nui loa,
Your BG Team