State lab detects additional COVID-19 variants
HONOLULU -- The Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division (SLD) continues to work in partnership with private sector laboratories to collect and examine specimens of the SARSCoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. To date, nine samples of the L452R variant have been identified and four specimens that exhibit a molecular clue associated with the UK B1.1.7 have been found. This indicates the B1.1.7 variant may be present in Hawai‘i. Expedited whole genome sequencing (WGS) is being performed on the specimens containing the molecular clue to determine whether they are the B1.1.7 variant. Sequencing is expected to be completed late this week. [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest February 1, 2021
Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ Daily Preliminary Vaccine Administration Updates The chart below will be included in the Daily News Digest, Monday-Friday. A weekly summary with final vaccination numbers will be included each Wednesday. 90 New COVID-19 Cases Reported DOH reports 90 new cases of coronavirus today. There were no additional deaths. This report includes cases up until Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the State COVID-19 dashboard and on the DOH Disease Outbreak & Control Division website at noon each day at HawaiiCOVID19.com/dashboard. Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 11:59 p.m. Jan. 30, 2021 Island [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest January 29, 2021
Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ Daily Preliminary Vaccine Administration Updates The chart below will be included in the Daily News Digest, Monday-Friday. A weekly summary with final vaccination numbers will be included each Wednesday. https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/#vaccine 115 New COVID-19 Cases & One Additional Death Reported DOH reports 115 new cases of coronavirus today. One additional death involving a female, between the ages of 50 to 59 years old, was also reported. She had underlying conditions and was hospitalized at the time of her death. This report includes cases up until Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest January 28, 2021
Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ Weekly COVID-19 Cluster Report Daily Preliminary Vaccine Administration Updates The chart below will be included in the Daily News Digest, Monday-Friday. A weekly summary with final vaccination numbers will be included each Wednesday. 100 New COVID-19 Cases & Two Additional Deaths Reported DOH reports 100 new cases of coronavirus today. Two (2) deaths are also being reported today. Deaths: Oahu 1 Man, 70-79 yrs, underlying conditions, hospitalized 1 Woman, 90-99 yrs, underlying conditions, hospitalized This report includes cases up until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the State COVID-19 dashboard and [...]
Department of Health issues red placard to Doner Shack due to repeated mask wearing violations
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch has issued a red “CLOSED” placard to Doner Shack at 79 South Pauahi St. in Honolulu due to repeated instances of employees not wearing face masks while working. The Food Safety Branch received a complaint alleging that Doner Shack employees were not wearing masks on Jan. 20. A complaint inspection was conducted on Jan. 25 and revealed that the establishment’s owner/manager was working with no face mask or covering. A written warning letter was issued to Doner Shack for the violation observed, which stated that a follow-up inspection would [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest January 27, 2021
Governor’s Office: Hawaiʻi Expands Pre-Travel Testing Program to South Korea Gov. David Ige announced today that starting Friday, Feb. 5, travelers from South Korea may bypass mandatory 10-day quarantine if they take a COVID-19 test and receive a negative result from a trusted testing partner in South Korea. The test must be taken no earlier than 72 hours prior to departure. In addition to the state’s program, effective January 26, 2021 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers [...]
Kalawao County receives COVID-19 vaccines
KALAUPAPA – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) delivered and administered COVID-19 vaccines to residents and employees at the Kalaupapa Settlement of Kalawao County on the island of Moloka‘i this week. Dr. Glenn Wasserman, chief of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Division of the Hawai‘i Department of Health, and two DOH public health nurses flew to Kalaupapa Airport Monday. “It is gratifying to be able to protect our Kalaupapa patients and community with these vaccinations. Our patients are elderly with significant comorbidities that make them especially vulnerable to COVID-19,” said Dr. Wasserman. “We’ll be back in four weeks [...]
DOH targets outreach on COVID-19 vaccine education
Research shows that half of Hawaii's population wants the vaccine and another quarter are still deciding HONOLULU – Findings from a survey that was conducted last month have informed the Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s focus on outreach to key segments of the population that are prioritized to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. The study also affirmed that Hawai‘i residents understand and support the need to allow those with the greatest risk from COVID-19 to receive the vaccine first and that we have to wait our turn as the vaccine supply becomes available. About half of Hawai‘i residents said in a [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest January 26, 2021
Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ Records Review Reveals 59 Unreported COVID-19 Related Deaths The data cleaning process resulted in a correction from yesterday’s report of 60 historic deaths from COVID-19, which occurred between August and December last year. A comprehensive review of Electronic Death Reporting System records show 49 additional deaths on O‘ahu, seven (7) on Hawai‘i island, and three (3) on Maui. All 59 deaths are included in today’s counts. 71 New COVID-19 Cases Reported & 59 Historic Deaths Added DOH reports 71 new cases of coronavirus today. 59 deaths are also being reported today (see item above). [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest January 25, 2021
Office of the Governor: State of the State Address Focuses on COVID-19 and Recovery Reiterating the need for everyone in Hawai‘i to be personally responsible and to practice the three W’s of COVID-19 safety (wear a mask, wash your hands, watch your distance), Gov. Ige’s 2021 State of the State address recounted the difficulties of the past year and the challenges that lie ahead for the state. “Twelve months ago, we met for what promised to be a bright and promising year…literally overnight our expectations were crushed by COVID-19,” Gov. Ige told a virtual joint session of the [...]