JOSH GREEN – Concerns sparked HI-EMA advisory

As Hawaii’s COVID-19 case numbers reached their highest mark in months, the state asked Sunday that residents reduce gatherings to four or fewer people ahead of Christmas and New Year holidays.

Maui County’s gathering limit is no more than 10, and Mayor Michael Victorino has asked people before the holidays to consider celebrating outdoors and taking other precautions.

Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency on Sunday afternoon said it “strongly urges” residents to avoid gatherings of five or more people, making sure groups are only within members of the same household, according to a news release.

“Coming together with friends and family is an important tradition during Christmas and the New Year, but in these dangerous times, actively protecting each other from the virus should be a top priority,” the release said. “Please continue safe practices at all times — especially when last-minute shopping this season — by properly wearing a mask over both your mouth and nose, washing your hands frequently, and maintaining a physical distance of at least 6 feet apart.” 

Consequences for not following the state advisory was unclear, since counties each have their own gathering limits.

Agency spokesman Douglas Carroll on Sunday said the limit came from the lieutenant governor’s office in response to Sunday’s COVID-19 cases and surges across the U.S. Mainland. He added that county mayors were not consulted before the agency issued the advisory.

Maui County spokesman Brian Perry on Sunday said he wasn’t aware of any gathering limits within the county that have recently changed.

State Department of Health officials reported one new COVID-19-related death on Oahu, along with 204 new cases statewide Sunday, the highest tally in more than three months.

The new cases included 180 on Oahu, 13 on Hawaii island and 11 on Maui. However, 93 of the cases were among prisoners at Halawa Correctional Facility, according to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

Carroll said the agency’s advisory considered the high likelihood for community spread, which is shown in the state’s recent cluster report.

“I challenge you all to find safer ways to celebrate this holiday season,” Luke Meyers, Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency administrator, said in the news release. “Spread love and joy, not COVID.”

* Kehaulani Cerizo can be reached at kcerizo@mauinews.com.