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Hawaiian residents love to be out and about in their spare time, whether it’s a stop for a bite or a drink, a movie, or a workout at the gym. And tourists who are on vacation mode 24/7 are looking for those very distractions while they’re here.
In addition to all of the other ailments it has caused, COVID-19 has also thrown a monkey key into such casual fun. Eating, drinking and other close contact environments are also optimal places for respiratory disease to spread easily, with potentially fatal consequences and devastating effects on the strained health system of the state.
Safe Access Oahu and a similar program on Maui, Safer Outside, aim to enable this recreational category of businesses to serve customers within a level of pandemic protection. As additional vaccination or testing jobs are also placed on employees, this approach needs to be carefully monitored to measure its impact on businesses and on containing the spread of disease.
After the first week, there are some encouraging, if anecdotal, signs of the Oahu program, which has a 60-day trial period. First spot checks by the police have shown few problems, even though it is still early on. And some tourists who arrived after a COVID-19 test before the trip said they wished they had been vaccinated instead of going through the current negative test hurdles every 48 hours to visit a restricted venue. This persuasive effect is part of the intention.
But there is clearly much more work to be done: the city needs to be thorough in collecting economic and public health metrics.
Greg Maples, chairman of the Hawaii Restaurant Association, said many restaurants have opted for takeout only to avoid the whole problem, adding that restaurants have seen some staff cuts and sales in the 25-50 range % Report. After the initial pushback, customers would have generally accepted the change, he added.
City officials said they are working on an educational program to let potential tourists know of their options before they arrive. Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, said the challenge for public relations lies in the set of regulations that differ from country to country. Complications aside, better communication efforts need to be ramped up quickly.
Furthermore, the ongoing protests from critics of Safe Access are adding additional pressure to relax the program once it has achieved its main objectives.
If the program promotes vaccinations, as hoped, and helps to significantly reduce new infections and hospital admissions, the intended goal will be achieved.
The Maui program, which went into effect on Wednesday, limits indoor dining and bar seating to those who have evidence of vaccination or negative test results for COVID-19. Capacity is reduced to 50%, but unvaccinated customers who find outdoor seating can dine or drink on the premises.
The Oahu initiative has been running for a full week today and is more restrictive. Anyone who cannot prove their complete vaccination status or a current negative test will only be admitted to the pick-up service within a time window of a maximum of 15 minutes. Maples said the al fresco dining privileges should be made more accessible on Oahu as well, which is a fitting suggestion.
Last week there was welcome news about expanded access to free trials in four new locations on Oahu. This is critical to meeting the growing demand for routine testing that these and other government-enforced regulations now require instead of vaccinations.
While Safe Access is in play, the city should keep the lines open to smooth out kinks. And residents should find ways to support their neighborhood businesses in this temporary setting. We’re all in the same boat.
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