Tag: hawaii state governor david ige

  • COVID-19: Gov. Ige Issues Stay-At-Home Proclamation

    COVID-19: Gov. Ige Issues Stay-At-Home Proclamation

    FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:

    Governor Ige issues statewide order to stay at home, work from home to fight COVID-19

    State tax deadlines also extended

    March 23, 2020

    For video click here

    For photos click here

    HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige signed a third supplementary proclamation Monday, ordering the entire state to stay at home and work from home starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Mar. 25 through Apr. 30. Essential workers are exempt.

    The action complements orders issued by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Maui County Mayor Mike Victorino over the weekend.

    “The threat of COVID-19 is unprecedented and requires aggressive action,” said Ige. “I have been in discussions with our county mayors who are developing their own plans to meet the unique needs of their counties. We also agree that a statewide order is necessary for cohesion and consistency.”

    To ensure that the state continues to provide essential, core services, there are exemptions in the following categories: Healthcare services, grocery stores and pharmacies, food production and farming, public and private schools, restaurants offering take-out services, hotels and motels, construction, and essential government functions.

    In turn, residents can leave their homes for various needs, including healthcare, purchasing food, medicine and gasoline, taking care of the elderly, minors, and those with disabilities, returning to a place of residence outside of Hawai‘i, picking up educational materials for distance learning, receiving meals and any other related services, and outdoor exercise – including surfing, swimming and walking pets.

    Non-compliance would be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, or up to one year in jail, or both.

    For questions about exemptions, email CovidExemption@hawaii.gov.

    Those who would like to volunteer ideas or resources to assist in the response effort should email CovidKokua@hawaii.gov.

    Gov. Ige also announced the state is extending tax deadlines for the Hawai‘i 2019 individual and corporate income tax filing and payments. The deadline is extended from April 20 to July 20.

    Taxpayers do not need to take any action to participate in the tax relief program. The department is making necessary system changes to include the new dates. However, taxpayers expecting a refund for tax year 2019 should file as soon as possible.

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    Media Contacts:

    Jodi Leong

    Deputy Communications Director/Press Secretary

    Office of the Governor

    Office: 808-586-0043

    jodi.c.leong@hawaii.gov

     

    Cindy McMillan

    Communications Director

    Office of the Governor

    Office: 808-586-0012

    cindy.mcmillan@hawaii.gov

     
  • COVID-19: Stay At Home/Work At Home

    COVID-19: Stay At Home/Work At Home

    UPDATE – Caring for our community: stay-at-home, work-at-home

    We are seeing the spread of COVID-19 in the country and in the last week we have seen more cases.  The Senate has been asking the Administration for its COVID-19 plans since last week to ensure the public health is protected and procedures and resources are available to mitigate and treat outbreak if and when it happens.  We expected a strong directive to protect the state against the spread of COVID-19. Yesterday, Governor ordered the quarantine of all arriving persons but left shelter-in-place voluntary to the counties.   Today both the House and Senate sent a letter asking Governor for strong decisive action to impose a shelter-in-place directive on all persons across the state so we can contain community spread and protect our island communities.

    For us in Honolulu, we have one of the strongest actions to protect against COVID19 community spread through Mayor Caldwell’s stay at home /work from home order.  As of tomorrow 3/23 at 4:30pm, all non-essential workers are to stay at home and work at home until April 30.  It details the list of essential functions, businesses and activities allowed to operate but they all must follow strict social distance requirements, i.e. 6 foot rule and avoid shaking hands,  washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer, covering coughs or sneezes,  and regularly sanitizing high touch surfaces.

    Stay at home and stay healthy.


    “FLATTEN THE CURVE”  You may have heard of this term and why it’s important to understand in pandemics like we face with the spread of COVID-19.  The “curve” researchers refers to the projected number of people who will contract COVID-19 over a period of time. As there is currently no vaccine or specific medication to treat COVID-19, and because testing is limited in the U.S., the only way to flatten the curve is through collective action. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all Americans wash their hands frequently, self-isolate when they’re sick or suspect they might be, and start “social distancing” (essentially, avoiding other people whenever possible or at least stay 6 feet apart).  To understand why it’s important to do our part in social distancing, this links you to a good video we’ve found that may be helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgBla7RepXU&feature=youtu.be