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The expanding eligibility pool bodes well for resuming in-person classes in the fall, Hawaii officials said.

It would be better to focus on encouraging vaccinations, rather than maintaining a system that was never meant to be permanent.

Health authorities say the island has moved from largely isolated clusters to “sustained community transmission.”

The state and county will be working together to figure out how to incorporate vaccination counts into the tier system, Blangiardi’s office said.

The slowdown comes as Hawaii reached a milestone, with nearly 63% of the 16-and-older population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday.

The governor also said Hawaii’s decision to maintain mask mandates isn’t inconsistent with CDC guidance.

Gov. David Ige said it would create an “enforcement nightmare” to allow fully vaccinated people to forgo masks in accordance with new CDC guidance.

The CDC updated its guidance to say fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear masks outdoors except among crowds of strangers, but the state hasn’t changed its rules.

The Honolulu vaccine clinic run by Hawaii Pacific Health may continue to offer a walk-in option if there’s demand.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono said she is working to extend the help to citizens of nations in compacts with the U.S., some of whom face crippling costs for burials.