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Lt. Gov. Josh Green joined the COVID-19 Care Conversation to talk about the current state of COVID-19 in Hawaii, testing, and when the community will see restrictions lifted.
Green shared encouraging information that the state’s viral load is low and that there are more people recovering than there are new cases. Currently, Hawaii has the lowest mortality rate and the second-lowest number of confirmed cases per capita in the country. While this may be the case, Green does not want the community to get overconfident.
He reinforced that it is “safer at home” and despite the state’s initial steps to reopen the economy, the community needs to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing. He expressed gratitude for the community’s quick action taken in respecting the stay-at-home quarantine, stating it played a major role in Hawaii’s ability to prevent a massive spread of the coronavirus.
When asked when the community could see a lift on the interisland travel restrictions, he responded that it could occur later this month as long as cases remain low. Reopening the state to welcome U.S. mainland and international visitors, on the other hand, does not seem likely anytime soon. Lt. Gov Josh Green spoke in depth about possible options for testing visitors, but no plans have been finalized yet. He is strongly pushing for pre-arrival testing.
In addition, he is encouraging the state to reopen beaches to the local community for small gatherings with a 20-feet-apart distance requirement. And he agrees with state Attorney General Clare Connors that inmate releases should be halted. Until social distancing restrictions are relaxed, Green does not recommend gathering with family members outside of the same household.
Watch here and submit your questions through our Facebook page. Join us Friday when UH President David Lassner will be our guest.
The COVID-19 Care Conversation, sponsored by Hawai’i Executive Collaborative and Hawaii Pacific Health, airs live every weekday at 10:30 a.m. on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Facebook page. Yunji de Nies and Ryan Kalei Tsuji discuss the latest news, resources and community concerns about the coronavirus outbreak in Hawaii.
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