Governor David Ige today issued a “stay at home, work at home” order for everybody in the state.  The order is effective on Wednesday, Mar. 25, at 12:01 a.m., and will go through April 30, 2020.

There are a number of exemptions.  Residents may leave their homes or places of residence to purchase food, medicine and gas; take care of the elderly, minors, and the disabled or ill; perform other vital functions; and exercise, including swimming, surfing, dog walking, and more, as long as social distancing is practiced.

There are also a number of exemptions for workers in a number of industries, including health care, media, stores providing essential functions, construction workers, and more.

Gov. Ige also pushed the 2019 tax filing deadline from April 20, 2020 to July 20, 2020.  This is an automatic extension for all Hawaii tax filers.

Gov. Ige pleaded with everyone to follow these orders, and continue to practice social distancing.   He is asking everybody to  avoid physical contact with friends and loved ones to avoid spreading this potentially deadly disease.

Department of Education Chair Christina Kushimoto spoke and noted that Hawaii State Department of Education provides an essential service.  She said that shutting down the public school system could do more harm than good.  Right now, students are on an extended spring break until at least April 7.

Gov. Ige said his order suspends parts of the Landlord/Tenant Code and the Banking Code, to avoid foreclosures and evictions.

Gov. Ige expects all residents to voluntarily comply, although counties will have enforcement responsibility.   The Governor emphasized this is all about flattening the curve, avoiding a spike in COVID-19 cases, and ensuring our island’s health care system does not get overrun as has happened in Italy and is close to happening in New York and other mainland states.   He said so far, residents have been complying.

Governor Ige said the order is simple:  stay at home.  Go to work,  pick up necessities as required, but go out, exercise or work or shop, but avoid others and then go home and stay home.

2003162-ATG_Third-Supplementary-Proclamation-for-COVID-19-signed