Can I socialize safely with friends?
Addressing the grey area of socializing with family and friends who aren’t members of your household. Of the many ways COVID-19 has changed life for Hawaii residents, physical distancing–in the land of aloha hugs and potlucks–is among the toughest to follow. It’s only natural that, as fatigue sets in and guidelines extend into the indeterminate future, even well-intentioned people are looking for loopholes that allow them to reunite with loved ones. But is there any safe way to see family or friends while following physical-distancing guidelines? There is always risk. The U.S. Centers for Disease [...]
COVID-19 cases reach new one day record of 355 infections
Death Toll Rises to 40 HONOLULU – Two O‘ahu men, both over 60-years-old are the latest victims of COVID-19. And today, DOH reports at least 86 new diagnosed cases of coronavirus are part of an existing cluster at the O‘ahu Community Correctional Facility (OCCC). Health investigators say at least 116 cases are attributable to OCCC, with 24 staff and 92 inmates having tested positive for COVID-19. The 86 cases are part of the 355 newly diagnosed cases today; the record single day case count since the beginning of the pandemic. The State and City & County of Honolulu are [...]
Iwilei homeless shelter to be temporary isolation and quarantine site as part of Behavioral Health and Homeless Statewide Unified Response Group
HONOLULU – As a way to step up efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and lower the number of rising cases, the Behavioral Health and Homeless Statewide Unified Response Group, composed of state, city, and nonprofit agencies, is taking swift, decisive action to intervene. I.H.S, The Institute for Human Services Sumner Men’s Shelter in Iwilei is being temporarily established as a quarantine and isolation facility after 7 new cases were identified through the latest round of testing. The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH), the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness, The City and County of Honolulu and the Institute of [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest August 12, 2020
Department of Health: Multiple Clusters Continue Spread of COVID-19 as Death Toll Rises to 38 Community spread of the coronavirus, particularly on O‘ahu, continues to be the primary cause of new infections. Today, of the 202 newly diagnosed cases of COVID-19, 197 are on O‘ahu. Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i each had two (2) additional cases, while Maui reported one (1). There are multiple clusters of infections, including five (5) distinct restaurant clusters; however, each involves a few employees at single locations, and no transmission to customers has been identified at this time. Honolulu Hale is a potential transmission source [...]
Multiple clusters continue spread of COVID-19
Death Toll Rises to 38 HONOLULU – Community spread of the coronavirus, particularly on O‘ahu, continues to be the primary cause of new infections. Today, of the 202 newly diagnosed cases of COVID-19, 197 are on O‘ahu. Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i each had two (2) additional cases, while Maui reported one (1). There are multiple clusters of infections, including five (5) distinct restaurant clusters; however, each involves a few employees at single locations, and no transmission to customers has been identified at this time. An employee potluck at Honolulu Hale is a potential transmission source for 11 cases of [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest August 11, 2020
Department of Health: Declining Numbers of Cases May be Due to Decrease in Number of Tests DOH reports 118 positive cases today. This is the lowest daily triple-digit case count, but it is unclear as to whether this was a result of a decrease in the number of tests. However, the percent of positivity over the past week remains relatively unchanged at 5.8%. Note: The deaths of two elderly O‘ahu men will be included in tomorrow’s case numbers. Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, August 11, 2020 Island of Diagnosis New Cases Reported since 2/28/2020 (including new cases) [...]
Honolulu woman’s powerful story of surviving COVID-19
HONOLULU – There was a time, in the spring, when Sarah Bolles of Salt Lake thought she was going to die. Diagnosed in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic she credits excellent health care, her faith, and the support of her family for her survival. It was definitely touch and go, and in a recent interview she reflected on just how close she was to death’s door, her struggle to overcome the insidious coronavirus, and now six months later, her continuing physical and emotional struggles. Sarah is not sure how she was infected, but she thinks it was probably [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest August 10, 2020
Department of Health: Three More Deaths Reported and 140 New Cases of COVID-19 DOH is reporting the 12th straight day of triple digit newly diagnosed coronavirus cases, with 140 today. All but two (2) of the new cases are on O‘ahu, with one each on Maui and Kaua‘i. The department also reports the 32nd, 33rd and 34th COVID-19 deaths. One is an elderly O‘ahu woman, and the two others are elderly O‘ahu men, one who had underlying health conditions. The deaths continue to be under investigation. Health Director Bruce Anderson joins all of Hawai‘i in expressing sympathies to [...]
Health investigators seek close contacts at Honolulu gentleman’s club
One More Fatality & Another Record Daily Count of 231HONOLULU – An employee of a Honolulu gentleman’s club, who was sick, worked at a different club than the one originally identified by the Hawai‘i Dept. of Health. The clarification about the identification of the club came into DOH leadership after-hours on Friday and the department regrets the error. DOH is attempting to identify the club where the worker danced on July 25 as health investigators have been unable to identify all close contacts who potentially could have been exposed to COVID-19.State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said, “Given that people may [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest August 7, 2020
Governor’s Office Governor and Superintendent Announce O‘ahu Public Schools Will Go Online for First Four Weeks At a news briefing Friday, Gov. David Ige and Supt. Christina Kishimoto announced public schools on O‘ahu would be doing complete distance learning for the first four weeks of the new school year, which starts on Aug. 17. This comes a day after new rules were announced to curb the growing spread of COVID-19 on O‘ahu. Gov. Ige said, “I have heard a great deal of concern from parents and teachers regarding the start of the school year... This is a challenging [...]