Gov. Ige approves Maui County’s request to close bars for 2 weeks

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Gov. David Ige on Thursday approved Maui County’s request to shut down all bars for two weeks.

The newest COVID-19 restrictions go into effect on Saturday through Dec. 26.

Mayor Mike Victorino first made the announcement of his request on Wednesday.

The county says bars that don’t have a certified kitchen will need to close for two weeks. Eateries can still serve alcohol at dining tables, but not at the bar counter.

“The Maui District Health Office reported that numerous positive cases are tied to close interactions among patrons in bar settings, and we need to take action to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” Mayor Michael Victorino said.

“This is an initial step. We will continue to closely monitor daily case counts, identify sources of spread and take further action as necessary to protect the health and safety of our residents,” he added.

This story may be updated.