Mayor’s office clarifies hand sanitizer rule

Mayor Harry Kim’s office released a statement Wednesday clarifying an emergency rule regarding hand sanitizers.

Kim’s COVID-19 emergency Rule No. 3, which went into effect Tuesday, “calls for all customers to sanitize their hands at entry, and hand sanitizing stations must be set up in the customers’ path at the entrance to the fullest extent possible,” according to the statement.

“Demand for hand sanitizer has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, and establishments that lack supplies of hand sanitizer may offer an alternative to hand sanitizer by providing a place to wash hands,” the statement said. “A wash basin or sink with soap and water would be sufficient and be in good faith compliance with the order.”

The county is “looking at all avenues to acquire supplies of hand sanitizer, including local distilleries that have switched their production lines to produce it,” according to the statement.

The rule cited Gov. David Ige’s fifth supplementary proclamation dated April 16, which mandates protective measures “to the fullest extent possible” including the mandatory use of hand sanitizer and sanitizing products by all customers and employees of essential businesses.

The county’s COVID-19 Prevention and Education Task Force will be working with businesses to ensure compliance by their employees and customers, according to the statement.

For further information about requesting a visit from the task force, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.