All Hawaii County gymnasiums and community centers reopened to the public today after being closed for more than a year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As case numbers continue to decline, we believe that it is time to begin our return to normalcy by getting our community back into our gyms and recreations facilities,” Mayor Mitch Roth said in a release issued late Friday. “We know that active lifestyles contribute to a healthier immune system and can greatly improve our chances against the virus, and we are excited to be able to get folks back to the activities they love most, safely.”
County gymnasiums and community centers will be available for scheduled, organized recreation activities, and reservations are required. Recreation directors at each facility will work with the public on reservations, sanitization protocols, and return-to-play safety plans, the release stated.
“In addition, we are encouraging organizations to apply for exemptions so that spectators may be allowed to enjoy from the stands,” Roth said in the statement.
On Sunday, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency reported 33 new cases of COVID-19 among Hawaii Island residents, bringing the total number of cases to 11,097 since late February 2020. Over the past seven days, the island has reported 406 cases with a test positivity rate of 3.4%. To date, 118 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported.
Meanwhile, the island’s vaccination rate among the entire population, not just those eligible for the vaccine, was 67%, or about 132,800 people fully vaccinated. Seventy-nine percent of the island’s population has had at least one shot.
Statewide, 71.2% of the population has is fully inoculated, according to the state.
The county said the Department of Parks and Recreation also is working toward reopening its senior centers, senior congregate meal sites, and senior classes in January 2022, according to the news release.
For more information, including dates and times of availability, contact the appropriate Parks and Recreation facility directly, or contact the department’s recreation division at (808) 961-8740