Maui Mayor Michael Victorino has announced that a night-time curfew pilot program will start at 11 p.m. Friday night, April 10, for Maui County.

Curfew will be from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The public may not travel outside the home during these hours, unless for medication, medical emergencies or essential business.

This includes motor vehicles and other wheeled means of transportation.

“After reflection on the upcoming holiday weekend and concerns in our community, I have decided to mandate a night-time curfew for at least the next three days,” Mayor Victorino said in a press release.  “These are difficult times for all of us and we’re doing everything in our power to stop the spread of COVID-19. We will evaluate the effectiveness of this curfew after this weekend and will continue to make policy changes as needed.”

Other rule changes effective 11 p.m. Friday, April 10:

• Only two members of a household may leave home to conduct essential activities, unless other household members absolutely cannot be left home alone (i.e. young children, elderly and persons with disabilities).
• Businesses are required to limit entrance to two  people from one household, unless other household members absolutely must accompany them.
• Essential businesses with employees that have direct public contact or handle food, shall be required to wear a mask or other face covering. Employers also shall allow employees to voluntarily wear masks or face coverings.
• Bed and Breakfast homes and Short-Term Rental homes may only operate to provide housing for essential workers.

On O’ahu, Mayor Kirk Caldwell has issued a similar order.  All of this is to help stem the tide of COVID-19.

Maui and O’ahu have both suffered deaths from COVID-19. In addition, just yesterday, the State Department of Health revealed that 15 people connected with Maui Memorial Medical Center have been confirmed at positive for COVID-19.