Gov. David Ige said this afternoon that childcare, wholesalers and nonprofits are among the essential business that will be allowed to reopen starting Friday.

Speaking at his daily briefing at the state Capitol, the governor also apologized for the confusion that happened with Tuesday’s announcement regarding the reopening of retailers and other businesses as part of his seventh emergency supplementary proclamation in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At his briefing Tuesday, Ige announced that the businesses could reopen Thursday. Only later that night did he amend his order to match Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s aim of reopening on May 15. Additionally, he left the start-date out of Maui County’s order because Mayor Michael Victorino was still working out his own timeline.

Ige said this afternoon that he supports the flexibility of the mayors to make their own decisions.

“With only one positive COVID-19 case (today), we are on the right track to get the disease under control in Hawaii,” he said. “The strong numbers helped us to make the decision to begin a careful and thoughtful reopening of our economy.”

This latest round of reopenings will also include nonfood agricultural operations including landscaping and flower farmers, astronomy observatories and their support facilities, car washes and pet grooming services.

Also allowed to reopen will be health care and social assistance businesses, retail businesses and services including apparel and electronics, shopping malls and wholesale and warehousing operations.

Ige last week allowed some estate services, new and used car and truck dealerships, automated service providers, mobile service providers, services provided on a one-on-one basis, florists and public and private golf courses to reopen.

He was joined by Lt. Gov. Josh Green and Suzanne Case, director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Case spoke about the reopening of state parks.

Gov. David Ige's Sevent… by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd

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