Eleven Hawaii state legislators from the Big Island– four State Senators and seven State Representatives– have sent a letter to Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim, urging him to shut down all but essential government operations and require all Hawaii residents to shelter in place for 15 days as a response to the spread of COVID-19. The State Department of Health today reported the first two cases of community transmission, on O’ahu, including one child, though out of 37 cases in the state, only one–a visitor sequestered at a Hilo hotel–is on Hawaii Island. As Mayor of the County of Hawai’i, we strongly urge you to take the following immediate actionsthrough an Emergency Proclamation and Emergency Rule(s):• Institute an immediate countywide shut down for the next fifteen (15) days. • Require the immediate closure of all County facilities and workspaces, and sendhome all non-essential County of Hawaiʻi personnel for the duration of the shut down. OnishiSenator Lorraine R. Inouye Representative Joy A. San BuenaventuraRepresentative Richard P. CreaganRepresentative Nicole E. LowenRepresentative David A. Tarnascc: Hawai`i County Council Chairman Aaron Chung