Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green credited Maui County leadership with limiting the spread of COVID-19 while the pandemic surges on the U.S. Mainland.

During a press conference with Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino, Lt. Gov. Green noted that Maui County’s 7-day rolling average of new cases was 29 on Thursday, with a testing positivity rate of 2.8 percent.

“I’ll tell you that this positivity rate is something that every other county across the country would relish at this moment after seeing the incredible surge of COVID all across the Mainland where they’re having to close down left and right,” he said.

“Why are you guys doing so well in Maui?” he asked. “We’re doing well relative to other places because people are wearing masks. Your mask rate is 95 percent, which is probably the best in the country. This is a reflection of trusting leadership.”

Also while on Maui, Lt. Gov. Green toured a vaccination clinic at Maui Memorial Medical Center and at Roselani Place in Kahului. He pledged to advocate for more vaccine for the Neighbor Islands.

He credited the leadership of Mayor Victorino.

“He is exceptional when he speaks about caring for people and doing the right things, and wearing a mask is one of them,” Lt. Gov. Green said.

Mayor Victorino said: “I would like to thank Lieutenant Governor Green for taking the time to visit Maui and offer his perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic in Maui County. His observations are especially insightful as a practicing physician and as a leading figure in our state in the fight against COVID-19.”