Gov. David Ige, along with four county mayors, today announced new statewide restrictions on the size of social gatherings amid a record surge in coronavirus cases in Hawaii.

“We need to minimize person-to-person contact to reduce transmission,” Ige said during a news conference this afternoon. “We all need to be committed to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

Ige today signed an executive order that sets statewide limits for social gatherings, effective immediately. Social gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Indoor capacity is set at 50%, which includes bars, restaurants, and gyms.

Ige also said mingling is not allowed at restaurants and bars, and masks must be worn at all times except when eating and drinking. Parties must maintain at least 6 feet of distance between groups.

The governor also announced that all “professionally structured events” that will include more than 50 people must submit a COVID-19 mitigation plan with county officials who will review the plan to “ensure that mitigation (measures) to slow the spread of COVID-19 are implemented.” Those events include entertainment, weddings, banquets, conventions and large meetings, he said.

Ige noted that the current seven-day average daily case count is over 500 and virus hospitalizations in Hawaii are at 219. A month ago, the 7-day average daily count was 60 cases and there were 48 hospitalized virus patients.

State health officials today recorded 436 new coronavirus cases statewide. Today’s new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 292 new cases on Oahu, 33 on Maui, 76 on Hawaii island, 15 on Kauai, three on Molokai and 17 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state.

“We need to take action, and we need to take action now,” he said.

The governor also said the number of cases from visitors is relatively low at “1 or 2%.”

Ige said the restrictions do not affect Hawaii’s public schools and he doesn’t have any specific target numbers of decreasing COVID-19 cases set in order to lift restrictions.

“We are hoping that the number of new cases plateaus and then starts to fall and I do think that when we see that as a community we will be able to recognize that we have been effective,” Ige said.

The emergency order is expected to end Oct. 18 unless the governor issues a subsequent order, according to a news release.

2108048 ATG Executive Order No. 21 05 Distribution Signed by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd

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Editor’s Note: Watch the video from the news conference above. This story is developing and will be updated.