SANDY BAZ
Steps needed to slow cases
Maui County bars and restaurants will see further reductions in occupancy and social gathering numbers will be cut in half with new rules slated to go into effect Saturday, pending state approval.
Although county and state health officials had expected COVID-19 cases to decline after recent closures, the curve has been peaking, Managing Director Sandy Baz said Wednesday during the county’s news conference.
“The actions we’ve taken today that the mayor has requested the governor approve are interim steps to help to slow down the number of cases, the spread, that’s been happening,” he said. “If you look at the epidemiology curve that’s been occurring, it has peaked and we would’ve expected it to go down after the holiday season and after the closure of the bars but it’s been kind of steady.”