Mayor’s latest emergency rule reopens beach parks, clarifies approved quarantine locations

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All county and state beach parks on the Big island will reopen at 7 a.m. Thursday, according to Mayor Harry Kim’s latest COVID-19 emergency rule.

Per Emergency Rule No. 12, camping at all beach parks and shoreline parks remains prohibited.

It also states that all people must continue to abide by the rules for face coverings and social distancing, and to limit gatherings to 10 people.

Rule No. 12 also clarifies approved quarantine locations. According to the rule:

“Persons requiring paid or commercial lodging while subject to the mandatory 14 day quarantine shall designate a hotel or motel as their quarantine location. Short-term vacation rentals (STVR), bed and breakfast (B& B) establishments, or other paid or commercial lodging defined by the Hawaii Revised Statutes as ‘transient accommodations’ shall not be designated as a quarantine location except for: 1) visiting essential and critical infrastructure workers, provided quarantine restrictions are followed; and 2) persons meeting the negative test exception under Section IV.B and Exhibit B Section 4( 2) of the 13th Proclamation. An STVR, B& B or other paid or commercial lodging defined by the Hawaii Revised Statutes as ‘transient accommodations’ may not be designated as a quarantine location for a new or ‘intended’ Hawaii County resident. Persons who have pre-arranged for long-term residential housing of 180 days or longer may utilize such housing as their designated quarantine location provided that the full 14 day quarantine is served and not stopped early.”

For further information, please call Civil Defense at 935-0031.