Hawai‘i County Mayor Harry Kim issued his COVID-19 Emergency Rule No. 10, which clarifies the mandatory requirements for wearing face coverings while in public settings. The Rule spells out certain exempt instances such as health conditions in which face coverings are not required, while mandating that face coverings be worn in most circumstances while in public.

Under the Rule, a business or organization may refuse to allow entry or service to a worker, customer, or patron that refuses to wear a face covering.

“Wearing a face covering in public is so important,” said Mayor Harry Kim. “These coverings protect each other from possible infection from COVID-19.”

Mayor Kim said that there is evidence that communities where wearing face coverings is widespread have lower rates of COVID-19 infection.

“The more people understand that wearing a face covering is crucial, the sooner the virus will have fewer people to infect, and the sooner life can start to return to normal,” Mayor Kim said. “Everyone must wear a face covering in public as a matter of course to keep us all safe.”

Social distancing is another key component that Rule No. 10 maintains.  Gatherings remain limited to 50 persons indoors and 100 person outdoors, with six feet of social distancing maintained between persons.