Events of up to 1,000 will be allowed in Oahu under new rules that reflect drop in infections

[ad_1]

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Professionally-run events for up to 1,000 people will be allowed in Oahu starting this month under rules that will also require all attendees to be vaccinated and masked, announced on Friday. Mayor of Honolulu, Rick Blangiardi.

Blangiardi has acknowledged that even though restrictions are relaxed, they are far from returning to normal – in what he called a recognition government interested in taking a slow and cautious approach after going through a Delta-provoked surge. and the deadliest month of the pandemic in September.

“I think our caution right now and maybe, let’s just say it, we’re too careful, so we can start this has a lot to do with what we’ve just been through in the last 60 days,” he said. Blangiardi said at a press conference on the new gathering rules. “Do you think I want to watch a football game with a mask on?” No, nobody wants to do that. But we want to move forward.

Gov. David Ige said restrictions on managed events are relaxed due to the significant drop in COVID infections and hospitalizations in recent weeks and the state’s continued progress in increasing its vaccination rate. As of Friday, the seven-day daily average of new cases in Hawaii stood at 201, while 69.3% of the population is now fully vaccinated. The vaccination rate on Oahu is 72%.

The governor said that although large events are not allowed, residents should always take precautions.

“The pandemic is far from over,” he said. “It’s not an entirely clear signal.”

Under the new rules, which only apply to Oahu:

Outdoor seated events – such as University of Hawaii football games – can be held starting Wednesday with up to 1,000 attendees (but no more than 50% of a venue’s capacity).
Indoor entertainment events can be organized from October 20 with up to 500 participants.
And outdoor “interactive events”, such as weddings or funerals, can also be held from October 20 with up to 150 people. Indoor weddings should always be limited to a maximum of 10 people.

All three types of events will require participants to be vaccinated and masked.

“Masked scrums” will be permitted at interactive outdoor events, and food and drink may also be served at these venues.

Social distancing will be required at larger events and only water may be made available.

Additionally, anyone working on the events must adhere to Safe Access Oahu protocols, which means they must either be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID test.

Event organizers will also need to submit mitigation plans to the city.

All social gatherings on Oahu that are not professionally planned will still have to meet strict size limits: no more than 25 people will be allowed to gather outdoors and no more than 10 indoors.

“We want to be as safe as possible,” Blangiardi said. “Everything we’re asking right now as a result of what we’ve just been through… it was very real, it was very threatening and we’re trying to get over it.”

The city banned all large gatherings in August amid an unprecedented rise in COVID cases that threatened to overwhelm the state’s health care system.

But in recent weeks, as new cases and hospitalizations have declined, calls for the restrictions to be lifted have increased. Event planners gathered outside the State Capitol on Thursday to call on the government to relax the rules, saying big events can be safe if precautions are taken.

Event organizers said the new restrictions are a step in the right direction and a way to help them stay afloat and keep their employees at work.

Beckie Stocchetti, Executive Director of the Hawaii International Film Festival,

Meanwhile, the governor said there were plans underway to allow larger gatherings on neighboring islands and he planned to make announcements about it soon.

Additionally, on Friday, Blangiardi said road races and triathlons are permitted starting Wednesday with up to 500 people, as long as staggered starts with groups of 25 or fewer are maintained. And under a new order, bars are allowed to serve alcohol until midnight rather than shutting down service at 10 p.m.

This story will be updated.

[ad_2]

Source link