Kauai Opens Beaches with Restrictions, Extends Quarantine Rules
Kauai beaches are set to reopen on Friday as part of a two-week pilot program. The reopening with come with restrictions to help with social distancing and contain the spread of COVID-19.
“We have taken temporary control over the coronavirus with our aggressive restrictions, and we feel we can begin to ease them in a responsible manner,” said Mayor Kawakami. “That said, the risk of the virus returning is most clearly associated with incoming travelers, whether residents or visitors, so we feel it is necessary to extend the mandatory quarantine.”
In most other parts of the Hawaii, beaches have been open for exercise only, with individuals being allowed to walk or run or participate in aquatic activities but not able to lie on the sand.
Kauai Beach Rules
The reopening of beaches will come with the following rules:
- Visitors to the beach should be part of the same household, and not in groups of more than 10 people.
- Anyone on the beach should socially distance themselves from anyone who isn’t a member of their own household, in accordance with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
- The sandy areas of beaches are to be closed overnight, only opening 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Shoreline fishing or other outdoor exercises are exceptions to this restriction.
- All of the other restrictions within Governor David Ige’s “Safer At Home” order are to be followed.
Mandatory Quarantine Extended
Mayor Kawakami also signed Emergency Rule 9, which extends the mandatory quarantine for incoming travelers through the month of June.
Those traveling for health care purposes, as long as they wear appropriate protective gear and keep social distance, are exempt from the quarantine. Those traveling to perform critical infrastructure work, as identified in the Governor’s proclamation, are still subject to the quarantine, but are allowed to break quarantine only to perform those essential work functions.
See the full news release here.
