Oahu has taken several steps toward reopening, but a step back is necessary, the mayor said.
Following the news that two Honolulu bars were linked to clusters of the coronavirus, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has asked Gov. David Ige to roll back the reopening of the island’s bar scene.
While most businesses are following safety rules, he said some are not.
“We’ve got to be ready for this coming wave and try to get ahead of it,” Caldwell said. “So we are going to take some steps backwards, but we are trying to do it in a way where we don’t wipe out a whole swath like all of the restaurant industry or all of the fitness center industry.”
The reversal comes just weeks after Honolulu bars reopened on June 19.
Officials are urging patrons of Brix & Bones on Hopaka Street and Arena 808 on Keeaumoku Street between July 16 and July 26 to contact their doctor for COVID-19 testing. So far, five people associated with those bars have confirmed coronavirus infections and seven others may have it.
As of Monday, Hawaii has seen 1,711 infections since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
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