HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-16 All County, State Beach Parks Closures Extended for 2 Weeks to September 30 to Stem Spread of COVID-19 -- press release
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
September 16, 2020
NEWS RELEASE
Closure of All County and State Beach Parks Extended through September 30
amid Spike in COVID-19 Cases
The closure of all County and State Beach Parks on Hawai‘i will be extended for two
additional weeks, reopening at 7:00 a.m. on October 1. The intent of the closures is to
prevent the further spread of the virus by limiting gatherings at the beaches.
Department of Health contact tracing has shown that large gatherings are a key source
of the virus’s spread, with several clusters being linked to social gatherings.
“Everybody has been really cooperative and have observed the rules to keep us all
safe,” said Mayor Harry Kim. “The past two weeks have shown a tremendous
improvement, and we want to make that we keep slowing the spread of the virus.”
Beach parks and coastal parks may be used for direct access to and from the ocean in
order to engage in exercise, fishing and gathering food. Park restrooms and showers
will be open during the hours of 7:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. daily.
The extension of the closures, which originally were to end on September 19, is
stipulated in Amendment 2 to the Mayor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 11.
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.