Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim issued a new rule today “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,” according to a statement from the mayor’s office.
The mayor’s COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 3 stipulates that a business shall not allow entry to anyone who refuses to wear a face mask or face coverings.
Exemptions from wearing face masks are those 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, Kim said in the statement.
“These are stricter than (Gov. David Ige’s) rules, because we want to make sure that our community stays healthy and safe,” Kim said.
Rule 3 was prompted in part after the recent outbreak of the virus among fast food workers and their families in Kailua-Kona.
“We want these rules to be in place, while focusing on being reasonable so that people can make a living,” Kim said.
The new rule strongly recommends that one customer per 250 square feet be allowed into an establishment to ensure the six-foot social distancing requirement.
Rule 3 also calls for businesses to discourage hoarding of essential supplies, and mandates that businesses post signage and communicate special hours for high-risk populations.
Businesses that handle food production and consumption are to have employees use gloves while handling food, and employees who handle any payment transaction by cash or credit card must sanitize or change gloves before serving the next customer, according to the rule.
All businesses are required to assign, train and schedule employees to sanitize carts, conveyors, counters, handles, knobs and other common touch areas, the rule says.
Employees also must do a self-check prior to starting their shift to monitor for any COVID-19 symptoms.
If an employee feels ill, they must immediately notify their supervisor and leave the premises, the rule states.
Rule 3 stipulates that the employee must seek medical attention if symptoms persist, and shall not return to work until symptom-free at a minimum of 72 hours. If an employee tests positive for the virus, they shall not return to work until staying home and being symptom-free for 14 days.
On the county’s Mass Transit buses, riders 5 and older must wear face coverings or masks to prevent the spread of the virus, with exemptions for people with health or medical conditions that prohibit their use. Riders who refuse to wear a mask will not be allowed to board or enter the bus.
Violators of Rule 3 may be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 or one year imprisonment, or both. The rule remain effective throughout the pandemic, or until terminated sooner by order of the mayor.