Governor Says No Changes To Hawaii鈥檚 Mask Mandate Anytime Soon
Gov. David Ige said it would create an “enforcement nightmare” to allow fully vaccinated people to forgo masks in accordance with new CDC guidance.
In a one-on-one interview Thursday, Gov. David Ige said he has no imminent plans to lift Hawaii鈥檚 mask mandate despite new CDC guidance saying that fully vaccinated people may safely forgo masks for most outdoor activities.
Ige urged the public to continue wearing masks for protection as COVID-19 cases fluctuate throughout the islands.
鈥淲e believe that the basic mask mandate is still appropriate, and we won鈥檛 be making changes, or making significant changes, at this time,鈥 Ige told Hawaii News Now.
Ige said health officials examined CDC guidelines in light of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and decided it would be easier for Hawaii to maintain its mandate that people wear masks in public when within 6 feet of others, regardless of vaccination status.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to get into the position of saying if you鈥檙e vaccinated you can do different things than those who are not vaccinated. It does create an enforcement nightmare. We wouldn鈥檛 be able to determine who is vaccinated and who鈥檚 not,鈥 Ige said.
Wearing masks indoors is still a certainty, though confusion lingers over the rules for outdoor mask use.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e outdoors and can maintain physical distance, our current standards says that you don鈥檛 have to wear a mask outdoors,鈥 he added.
Ige鈥檚 decision not to immediately change the mask mandate comes as Hawaii reported 122 new COVID-19 infections statewide on Thursday. The death toll stands at 483.
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