TOURISTS are ignoring the coronavirus warnings and ducking under police tape to sunbathe on Hawaii's beaches – despite the islands' lockdown.

As the number of cases grow in the state people have been told to stay inside for 15 days, but sunbathers still decided to go to the coast.

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It hasn't helped resident's animosity towards tourists, who they blame for bringing cases of the killer bug to the islands.

People were pictures packing on the beaches yesterday and ignoring the yellow tape supposedly closing off areas.

They were snapped holding surfboards and rubber rings, ready to enjoy a day at the beach – despite being asked not to.

Beach parks in Honolulu have been closed but Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he was struggling to enforce the shutdown.

He said: "We're pretty much hunkering down in the City and County of Honolulu.

"We don't want to have large gatherings. We don't want any gatherings anywhere in any private or public facilities.

"People continue to not follow the order. We are hoping that as we go forward, people will begin to realise the the significance of the spread of this virus.

"Beaches below the high water mark are open to the public and controlled by the state of Hawaii and DLNR, and we don't have control over that."

The coronavirus pandemic  has infected more than 307,200 people and killed more than 13,000 globally.

The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms in most people, but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or those with existing health problems.

More than 92,000 people have recovered so far, mostly in China.

Locals have complained that tourists are to blame for the spread of Coronavirus and have urged them to fly home.

The state's Department of Health issued a statement after local residents told tourists to "fly home".

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Spokesperson Janice Okubo told Hawaii News Now: "I have been informed that there are residents of Hawaii who believe the COVID-19 positive cases here are all visitors to the state, and unfortunately, there is stigma developing against visitors in Hawaii.

"I am asking the media to help the public understand that of the 37 positive test results to date, 32 of them are the result of travelling residents. The majority of cases are residents who returned home after travelling."

The number of coronavirus cases has since risen to 48 in Hawaii.

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