Ige Pleads With Hawaiʻi Residents to Stem Spread of COVID Over Labor Day Weekend

With the upcoming Labor Day weekend, Gov. David Ige is asking residents to be responsible as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to climb statewide.

State employees and business leaders received email messages from the governor asking that they do their individual and collective part to stop the spread of COVID-19 as the state experiences a disastrous surge in cases. Ige also released an urgent video message on social media.

“Because of COVID, our hospital system across the state is in danger of moving toward a worst-case scenario. If that happens, healthcare leaders warn that choices will have to be made, people may not receive the care they need, and some will die,” Ige stated in the email.

The governor continues to urge residents to get vaccinated, but also encourages additional steps during this critical time, especially over the long holiday weekend:

• Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation
• Avoid crowded places with many people nearby and
• Avoid close-contact settings, such as close-range conversations

Ige suggests reducing risk  of getting sick by:

• Setting your own curfews
• Avoiding activities that could lead to exposure and illness — or increase your risk of trauma
• Getting tested a few days after you arrive in Hawaiʻi if you’ve traveled

“Your choices can help our community prevent the worst-case scenario in our hospital system. Please act responsibly this holiday weekend and moving forward – as we battle this highly transmissible and deadly virus. Do it – for the sake of your family, our community, and our state,” Ige said.