Casey Harlow / HPR
Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced Tuesday that Honolulu will be moving from Tier 2 to Tier 3 on the county s framework of reopening. The move will loosen certain restrictions on businesses and other activities.
It will allow restaurants to serve patrons at their regular capacity, and in groups of up to ten compared to the previous limit of five. Businesses from retailers to auto dealerships to helicopter tours will also be allowed to operate at full capacity.
During an afternoon press conference, Blangiardi says he plans to make some modifications to the next phase of the island s reopening with Governor David Ige s approval.
Updated 1/8/21, 1:00 p.m.
Oʻahu will remain in the second phase of its reopening plan despite Thursday s 212 new reported cases for the island.
In a written statement, Mayor Rick Blangiardi said the seven-day average for the island as of January 6, was 102 cases, with a positivity rate of 4.5%. But according to the city s averages (without inmates), Oahu averaged 88 cases, with a positivity rate of 4.2% during that time. While today s bump in cases is concerning, I m confident that we will be able to move forward in a way that is calculated and based on science, Blangiardi said. A surge in cases was anticipated by our health experts following the holiday season but it s what we do now that will determine how devastating an impact this will have on our island in the weeks and months to come.