2022-01-26 COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 20

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Mitchell D. Roth Mayor Lee E. Lord Managing Director Robert H. Command Deputy Managing Director AT KWUU � -of (Offirr of fhr apr 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 . Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 Mayor's COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 20 Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Hawaii Revised Statutes ("HRS") Chapter 127A and due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, I hereby adopt and promulgate the following rules which have the force and effect of law. The following State of Hawaii proclamations related to the COVID-19 emergency authorized by Governor David Ige are relevant to this emergency rule: on March 4, 2020, Governor Ige issued a- Proclamation declaring a state of emergency to support ongoing State and county responses to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); Governor Ige subsequently issued several proclamations that, inter alia, suspended laws to enable State and county responses to COVID-19; implemented a mandatory self - quarantine for all persons entering the State and traveling between counties; directed statewide coordination between the State and counties; and mandated safe practices to reduce the spread of COVID-19. On November 29, 2021, Governor Ige issued an Emergency Proclamation Related to COVID-19. Since its identification in November 2021, the Omicron variant of SARS-Cov-2 has caused a significant increase in the number of reported cases worldwide. As of January 24, 2022, Hawaii Island has a seven (7) day average of 434 COVID cases per day. This Emergency Rule is based upon evidence that COVID-19 continues to endure within this State and county via travel related cases as well as through community spread as reported by the State Department of Health ("DOH") and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"). This Emergency Rule is also based upon scientific evidence that reinforces the types of best practices and social policies that are most effective at mitigating or preventing the transmission of COVID-19. To date, the number of documented cases of COVID-19 in the State is in excess of 204,933, and there have been at least 1,146 deaths attributed to this disease in the State. The continued spread of COVID-19 has resulted in increased hospitalization and strained health care resources, including utilization, of a limited number of County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.