Coronavirus in Hawai‘i: Honolulu Under a Weekend Curfew as Cases Rise to 442 Statewide

Your daily update of everything you need to know related to COVID-19 on April 9.

April 9, 2020

Katrina Valcourt,

empty streets during COVID aaron k yoshino

Photo: aaron k. yoshino

Seven new cases. The statewide total of positive cases is up to 442; 251 of those have been released from isolation. Six of the seven new cases are on O‘ahu.

Honolulu residents must stay off the streets overnight this weekend. Police Chief Susan Ballard announced a curfew, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The curfew will be lifted 5 a.m. Monday morning. Any vehicles out during this time, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds, may be pulled over. Ballard said this will be a trial run and the curfew may be extended. The only people allowed on the road at these times are those going to work, making deliveries, picking up medication, going to the hospital, first responders and security vehicles. Grocery shopping will not be allowed during these hours.

HPD stepping up enforcement. Ballard and Mayor Kirk Caldwell clarified that if you are near a state beach park for exercise, you must be below the high-water mark, also known as the highest wash of the waves, or risk being cited. Hanging out on the beach is not allowed. The ocean remains open for exercise.

Schools will likely remain closed for the remainder of the school year. According to the state Department of Education, schools won’t reopen until there have been no new cases reported in the Islands for four weeks. The DOE is following mitigation recommendations by the CDC. See page 22 of this report for more details.

All UH classes add credit/no credit option. Today the University of Hawai‘i system said every student can choose a credit/no credit option for spring 2020 courses. Both undergraduate and graduate students will receive their grades as usual, then have until May 22 to convert to credit/no credit if they choose. A full plan will be released by next Friday.

Cruise ships are under surveillance in Honolulu. Seven crewmembers of the Pride of America, currently docked in Honolulu, tested positive and everyone who has been in close contact is being tested. The rest of the crew will be taken directly to the airport to fly home. Four Oʻahu residents will disembark the Pacific Princess at Honolulu Harbor on Monday. No one onboard is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 and the ship has been at sea for longer than 14 days. The Seabourn Sojurn will arrive on April 18 for fuel and provisions but no one will be allowed off.