HONOLULU (AP) – Like many cities across the world, Honolulu came to an eerie standstill this weekend as officials implemented measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic throughout the islands.
Hawaii officials went beyond the standard stay-at-home orders and effectively flipped the switch on the state’s tourism-fueled economic engine in a bid to slow infections. As of Thursday, anyone arriving in Hawaii must undergo a mandatory 14-day self quarantine.
The unprecedented move dramatically reduced the number of people on beaches, in city parks and on country roads where many people rely on tourism dollars to pay for the high cost of living in Hawaii.
Hawaii is seeing unemployment claims soar during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the U.S. Employment and Training Administration, applications for temporary unemployment assistance in Hawaii increased during the week ending on March 21 as the U.S. economy bears the weight of growing fears around COVID-19. The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations says that for just this week through Wednesday, over 67,000 initial claims were filed. That’s nearly 11% of Hawaii’s eligible pool of workers.
The mandatory self-quarantine rules apply to both residents and visitors, but the prospect of being forced to stay in a hotel room or other accommodations for 14 days while on vacation effectively ended the daily influx of tourists.