2020-04-21 Mayor's Rule 3 with stricter requirements on face masks, etc -- press release

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Roy Takemoto Managing Director Harry Kim Mayor Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603  Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720  (808) 961-8211  Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Bldg C  Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 (808) 323-4444  Fax (808) 323-4440 April 21, 2020 NEWS RELEASE Mayor Kim Issues Emergency Rule No. 3 that Mandates Face Masks at Businesses Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim issued a Rule on Tuesday that mandates face masks or coverings for all customers of essential businesses aged 5 or older and all employees who have contact with others, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Mayor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 3 stipulates that a business shall disallow entry to anyone who refuses to wear a face mask or face coverings. Exemptions from wearing face masks are persons with health or medical conditions that prohibit the use of face masks or face coverings. Rule 3 also calls for all customers to sanitize their hands at entry, and hand sanitizing stations must be set up in the customers’ path at the entrance. The County’s COVID-19 Prevention and Education Task Force will be working with businesses to ensure compliance from their employees and customers, said Mayor Harry Kim. “These are stricter than the Governor’s rules, because we want to make sure that our community stays healthy and safe,” the Mayor said. Rule 3 was prompted in part after the recent outbreak of the virus among fast food workers and their families in Kona. “We want these rules to be in place, while focusing on being reasonable so that people can make a living,” Mayor Kim said. The Rule strongly recommends that one customer per 250 square feet be allowed into an establishment to ensure the six-foot distancing requirement, and to increase social distancing. Rule 3 calls for businesses to discourage hoarding of essential supplies, and mandates that businesses post signage and communicate special hours for high-risk populations. County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.