Kauai Proposes New Tier Levels for COVID-19 Restrictions

Kauai Mayor Kawakami has sent to Hawaii Governor David Ige a proposed update that would add Tiers 5 and 6 to Kauai’s current Business and Recreational Guidelines for COVID-19. The current system consists of four tiers, with Tier 1 being the most restrictive and Tier 4 the least restrictive. As of May 25th, 2021, Kauai is at Tier 4. Under Tiers 5 and 6, restrictions would be further loosened.

The new tiers would be triggered by Hawaii’s COVID-19 vaccination rates. If the proposal is approved, Tier 5 would go into effect when 60 percent of Hawaii’s residents are fully vaccinated, and Kauai’s seven-day average case count is less than 3 with a test positivity rate under 1 percent. Under Tier 5, maximum group size limits would be increased to 25 indoor and 75 outdoor, and max capacity for businesses and activities would increase to 75 percent. Tier 6 would go into effect once 70 percent of residents statewide are fully vaccinated. Reaching Tier 6 will effectively eliminate the tier system on Kauai, allowing businesses and events to open at full capacity.

“We know that vaccines are the quickest way for us to move forward,” stated Mayor Kawakami. “Our island took early, firm actions at the start of this pandemic which helped us build a robust vaccine program. As a result, Kauai is leading the state with 48 percent of Hawaii residents now fully vaccinated and protected against severe effects of COVID-19.”