Green: COVID-19 restrictions could be eased in a few weeks | News, sports, jobs

Lt. Gov. Josh Green speaks to Maui health officials during a visit to Valley Isle in April. During a radio show “Business Matters” with the Maui Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Green said that Hawaii could potentially ease COVID-19 restrictions in two to four weeks, although the COVID-19 emergency proclamation recently extended to November 30th became. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER Photo

Lt. Gov. Josh Green believes COVID-19 restrictions could be relaxed in about two to four weeks, and said it did “appropriate” that Mayor Michael Victorino allows spectators to participate in some outdoor sports.

“I think in two weeks the numbers will be low enough.” Green said Tuesday morning when he appeared outside the Maui Chamber of Commerce “Business Matters” Radio broadcast. “We’ll likely have an average case count of 125 to 150 per day (in the state), which is much lower than our high of 850, and our positivity rate will be well below 3 percent, which is pretty much considered the highest national standard for good Resonance. Some people are even OK with 5 percent.

“But below 3 percent there is next to not that much broadcast and Maui is doing extremely well. They are currently in the range of 2 percent. “

As of Tuesday, Maui County had the lowest COVID-19 test positivity rate in the state at 2.2 percent, while Hawaii County had the highest positivity rate in the state at 5.3 percent.

Although Green said Hawaii could allow restrictions to be relaxed in about two weeks, he said Governor David Ige “Is a bit conservative in this area” and said it was “Traumatic” when the state recorded up to 448 COVID-19 hospital admissions on September 3. The surge in hospital admissions that followed the surge in the Delta variant in August and September led officials to raise concerns about having to ration health care, while Green said he opposed it.

“For this reason I think that (Ige) is very risk averse and does not want to risk a slip, and I never want to predict where the governor will go, because of course I do not have the capacity to make these decisions, as lieutenant governor”, said Green.

“But two weeks is probably a safe place to cut down on constraints and loosen things up while people are still pretty smart.

“There is no reason at all right now not to allow (spectators) to exercise outdoors. That was an appropriate step by Mayor Victorino “, Green added. “There’s no question that it’s okay to be outside. Keep a little social distance between yourself and others, but watching soccer games for kids or watching soccer games is fine, perfectly fine. “

Despite public pressure and even support from Green and other lawmakers, Ige doesn’t leave fans in the stands at University of Hawaii home football games.

On Friday, Ige announced that he was extending his executive ordinance for an additional two months, which includes maintaining the statewide mandate for indoor masks and maintaining the Safe Travels program, saying the state is still not off despite falling cases in recent weeks the tailor.

Victorino also said Friday that Ige had denied all of his requests to lift some COVID-19 restrictions, but the mayor said he would allow viewers to safely access children’s games despite Ige’s refusal.

The rules apply to youth sports events that are not approved by the state ministry of education, Victorino said.

Green said lifting larger restrictions like gathering sizes or travel rules will do so “Come later.”

“I don’t think there is any reason to rush to abolish the Safe Travels program. That served us well in general “, Green said. “It’s not perfect, but it served us well. It will probably stay that way until the end of the year. “

He said the question remains when the state will welcome visitors again, which he said “The governor will have to signal that soon.”

On Aug. 23, Ige urged people to reduce travel to Hawaii as the Delta variant spread across the state and hospitals filled up. Hotels and tourism-related businesses have reported declines since the announcement.

Green said it could a. be “robust” November and December and he thinks 2022 “It will be enormous economically for us.”

He said people will catch up with the pandemic and visitors want to come to Hawaii.

As the state drives the recovery, government agencies and local counties are demanding stricter mandates, requiring workers to be vaccinated or regularly tested, and requiring customers to demonstrate vaccination to enter certain businesses.

When asked by Chamber President Pamela Tumpap whether the state and county should help workers and corporations pay employees who are being tested for COVID-19 based on mandates, Green said he supported the move, which is being made through the CARES Act could be funded.

Ige made it clear on Friday that employers are not required to pay for COVID-19 tests for unvaccinated employees and instead undergo regular tests.

While some businesses and restaurants were supportive, others struggled with the new rules, switching to outdoor dining and screening customers for vaccination status.

Sheryl Matsuoka, executive director of the Hawaii Restaurant Association, said that if restaurants ever needed community support, “it’s snowing.”

“Without international and domestic travelers it was difficult, really difficult” said Matsuoka, who also appeared on the radio show on Tuesday.

She added that she heard that places “pretty empty” including areas in Lahaina.

Tumpap added that months ago locals had a hard time getting to restaurants due to visitors, but now it may be time to go back to their favorite places to eat.

When compared between September 2019 and September this year, restaurant sales fell 40 to 50 percent, and some smaller restaurants and businesses even report that they are losing up to 70 percent in sales, Matsuoka said.

What also hurts is that international visitors, including those from Asia and even Canada, haven’t returned at the same level as before. When domestic travelers return home in the minor months of September and October, Matsuoka says the international visitors usually help out.

She said that “perfect storm” of events has hindered the gastronomy with the lack of international visitors as well as the pandemic and mandates.

Some restaurant employees have even undergone de-escalation training because they have to enforce mandates with sometimes unwilling guests, Matsuoka said. Some guests come from states that do not have a mask mandate or could be confused by different mandates in the four Hawaiian counties, she said.

Restaurants are trying to pay rent and keep their staff, said Matsuoka, who suggested that residents buy restaurant gift cards, make takeout and anything else they can to help.

“You don’t want to see them around” She said.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at [email protected].