Last week, I wrote about these 10 good reasons to postpone your trip to Hawaii. It was in response to the island’s hospitals nearing capacity and the Governor warning that “now is not a good time to travel to Hawaii.”
You will have to read the post for the other eight reasons but I could update it and add another, since Honolulu’s mayor Rick Blangiardi just announced a new program called “Safe Access O‘ahu” to begin on September 13.
The program is in partnership with the local business community to aggressively counteract the surge of COVID-19 cases. Safe Access O‘ahu requires restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, museums, arcades and other similar establishments, to ensure their employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to operate.
Customers will also have to provide proof they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to enter the business. The goal is obviously to allow these businesses the ability to operate more safely and instill confidence in the general public.
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According to their press release the following exceptions apply:
- Employees, full or part-time, interns, volunteers, and contractors, who show weekly proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (molecular or antigen)
- Patrons or customers with proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (molecular or antigen) taken with 48 hours of entry into the covered premises, and identification bearing the same identifying information as the proof of a negative test result
- Children under 12 years old
- Individuals entering and remaining for 15 minutes or less per 24 hour period
- A restaurant that operates solely as take-out, delivery or a food truck
Proof of vaccination may include showing a hard copy of your state approved vaccination card, a photograph/digital copy of the vaccination card or showing compliance with a Hawaii state-approved digital/smart device application confirming full vaccination status.
In addition, the City is implementing a 10 p.m. cut off for the sale, service and consumption of liquor at establishments that sell liquor for on premises consumption. The previous cut off was midnight.
