Hawai‘i COVID-19 News Update – November 5, 2021
Aloha,
Here are the latest COVID-19 news and issues facing Hawai‘i that you need to know this week. First, Hawaiʻi Business Magazine reports that as the first keiki ages 5 to 11 receive their vaccines, about 27% of parents surveyed said they are eager to get their kids a vaccine as soon as it is authorized. In comparison, 33% said they would wait to see how the vaccine is working.
This week, Governor Ige welcomes back non-essential interisland and trans-Pacific travelers and begins prepping for international travel starting next week.
- If you recall, Governor Ige urged residents and visitors in late August to delay their travel plans in light of surging new cases in the state and hospitals nearing capacity limits.
- Carl Bonham, executive director of the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization, said this about the leisure travel market, “Nonessential travel was always there. It just fell off dramatically when Delta took over our state, and drove up hospitalizations and caused capacity problems — and a lot of press on the national news about Hawaiʻi being shut down.”
- Next week, the U.S. is launching a new international entry program, and Hawai‘i state officials outlined how Hawai‘i will welcome back this crucial visitor market using the Safe Travels program.
- Under the new CDC program, international travelers coming directly to Hawaii will need to follow the federal rules. For non-U.S. citizens, that means proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test taken within the previous three days. U.S. citizens, meanwhile, must provide one of those.
- HI-EMA director Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara said, “I want to reiterate that the international airline carrier will be responsible to screen passengers prior to departure for the United States. International travelers that do not meet the newly established federal requirements will not be allowed to board the flight.”
State officials ease COVID restrictions on outdoor activities but keep social distancing rules in place indoors.
- Starting November 12, Governor Ige will drop all COVID restrictions for outdoor activities at restaurants, bars and gyms, but social distancing rules when indoors will remain in place (depending on the county you’re in). According to Hawaiʻi News Now:
- Only counties with programs that require patrons to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test can go to full capacity.
- Counties without those rules will have to stick to 50% capacity.
- Some experts are baffled by Governor Ige’s decision to keep social distancing rules at restaurants in effect.
- Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi issued this statement in response to the governor’s rules, “While I appreciate the Governor recognizing our Safe Access Oahu program, requiring six feet of distancing between indoor tables does not move the needle forward for many of the smaller restaurants and bars...The state’s six-foot distancing requirement between tables still means restaurants and bars cannot possibly operate at full capacity. I will discuss this again with the Governor as it is operationally and financially critical to our small, locally-owned establishments.”
- UHERO executive director Carl Bonham added, “Hawai‘i restaurants have lost about 2,000 jobs in recent months, and that the economic harm of the restrictions now outweigh the health risks.”
- A new survey from the Hawai'i Restaurant Association conducted last week finds that 80% of the restaurants it surveyed lost over 30% of their revenue because of the COVID surge. Nearly 40% saw revenues cut by half.
- The association attributes the negative impacts to a drop in foot traffic from locals and visitors alike.
Hawai‘i’s vaccination rate is “nearly unrivaled” at 83%, but new research finds social media is still playing a big role in vaccination hesitancy.
- According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, 94% of all eligible individuals in the state, ages 12 and up, have received at least one shot.
- Since December, the Pacific Alliance Against COVID has gone to Hawai‘i schools and community groups, where they surveyed about 3,000 people about their attitudes toward the COVID vaccine.
- Ruben Juarez, an economist with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization and a leader with the alliance, said, “Unvaccinated people consume 11% more information from friends and family and 12% more information coming from social media.”
- Local medical experts tell Hawaiʻi News Now the COVID death rate for unvaccinated Hawai‘i residents is 20 times higher.
- Meanwhile, others say the virus may never go away, but it will become more manageable and that Hawai‘i may have made it through the worst of the pandemic.
- Thomas Lee, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Hawaiʻi, told Civil Beat, “I already think we are easing into this phase of it being endemic in Hawaiʻi.”
Mahalo nui loa,
Your BG Team