Governor urged to create task force on resuming sports

Maui County Council ViceChairwoman Keani RawlinsFernandez has introduced a resolution for today’s council meeting to urge Gov. David Ige to create a task force to establish protocols to safely resume organized sports and recreational activities in Hawaii.

The resolution says that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its website to provide guidance on engaging in sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from Rawlins-Fernandez. In response to the CDC, California’s Department of Public Health recently posted guidelines on returning youth and adults to recreational sports.

“We have resources available to provide necessary guidance to safely return our youth and adults back to recreational sports consistent with current CDC guidance,” Rawlins-Fernandez said. “It’s time for the governor to take necessary steps to establish statewide guidelines to get our kids back to safe, organized play.”

The resolution also cites Academy of Pediatrics guidance stating “youth may experience benefits from increased socialization and friends and coaches and return to a more structured routine.”

The council meeting can be viewed on Akaku Channel 53. Testimony may be given via the video conference link or phone number listed on the meeting agenda at mauicounty.us/agendas. Written testimony is also accepted, with instructions at mauicounty.us/ testify/.

For more information, visit mauicounty.us or contact the Office of Council Services at 270-7838.