COVID-19 Exposures Warrant Caution on Kauaʻi
LIHUE – The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) is issuing guidance to individuals who participated in Lihue Missionary Church youth excursions on July 25 and 31. These individuals may have been exposed to confirmed cases of COVID-19. The highest risk individuals are those who rode in a van for a Lihue Missionary Church youth excursion on the afternoon of July 31. Those in the van are considered to be close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Close contacts are subject to DOH-directed quarantine and daily monitoring, and are prohibited from going to school or work until they complete their quarantine period. [...]
Free COVID testing returns to Wahiawa Friday
HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) will offer free COVID-19 rapid testing at Kamalani Academy in Wahiawa Friday, August 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Test results will be available within 15 minutes. Please bring a government photo ID and wear a mask. Request an appointment by email to hawaiifreecovidtest@gmail.com. Walk-ins will also be accepted. Kamalani Academy is located at 1403 California Avenue in Wahiawa. Free parking is available. Results from this testing site are not valid for use in the State of Hawai‘i Safe Travels Program. For more COVID-19 testing options visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/testing-isolation-quarantine/. # # # [...]
Partnerships Increase Availability of Free COVID-19 Testing for Hawaii Residents
HONOLULU – The Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) is increasing awareness of free COVID-19 testing sites available across the state. “Testing is a key mitigation measure, especially as we continue to see widespread community transmission,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “We encourage individuals exhibiting COVID symptoms and individuals who have been exposed to an infected person—regardless of vaccination status—to get tested.” Free COVID-19 testing is available through a number of federal, state, and county partnerships. Required documentation and appointments vary by site. Paid testing or testing with a doctor’s order are available at additional locations statewide. For COVID-19 health [...]
Q&A on Back-to-School Guidance: Karin Ng, Hawai‘i Department of Health School Liaison for COVID-19
Back to school! Getting ready for in-person learning this new school year has kept the Hawai‘i Department of Health and Department of Education very busy. Karin Ng, School Liaison in the Department of Health’s Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD), has been key to a successful transition back to in-person learning. Throughout the pandemic, she and the DOH COVID-19 School Response Team have worked closely with the Department of Education’s COVID-19 Core Response Team as well as with administrators from independent and charter schools. Whether school is in or out of session, she serves as the lead point of contact [...]
Free COVID-19 Testing Available in Ewa Beach Saturday
HONOLULU – The Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) will offer free COVID-19 rapid testing at Ilima Elementary School Saturday, July 31 from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 PM. Test results will be available within 15 minutes. Please bring a government photo ID and wear a mask. Request an appointment by email to hawaiifreecovidtest@gmail.com. Walk-ins will also be accepted. Ilima Elementary School is located at 91-884 Fort Weaver Road. Free parking is available. For COVID-19 health information, visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/health-information/. # # # PDF: Free COVID-19 Testing Available in Ewa Beach Saturday
Free COVID-19 testing returns to Lanakila Health Center
HONOLULU – The Hawai’i Department of Health (DOH) will offer free COVID-19 rapid testing at the Lanakila Health Center Friday, July 30 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Test results will be available within 15 minutes. Please bring a government photo ID and wear a mask. Request an appointment by email to hawaiifreecovidtest@gmail.com. Walk-ins will also be accepted. The Lanakila Health Center is located at 1700 Lanakila Avenue. Free parking is available. For COVID-19 health information, visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/health-information/. # # # PDF: Free COVID-19 testing returns to Lanakila Health Center
COVID-19 Guidance for Schools Recommends Layered Approach to Return to In-Person Learning
HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) released updated COVID-19 Guidance for Schools that includes four core essential strategies and additional mitigation practices to facilitate the return to in-person learning in the 2021-2022 school year. “This update comes at a time when we are emphasizing the return to in-person learning for K-12 schools,” said Acting State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble. “As the science related to COVID-19 mitigation practices has grown, we have more tools to ensure schools are as safe for our students as possible. Implementing multiple mitigation strategies consistently and in combination gives schools the flexibility to achieve [...]
Department of Health highlights youth-focused empowerment resources with public awareness campaign
Local comedian, influencer Tumua Tuinei lends his brand of comedy HONOLULU – The adolescent years are an important time as youth transition to adulthood, making it critical to promote life-long physical, mental, social, and emotional health. The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) recently launched a public awareness campaign to highlight TeenLink Hawaii, a youth empowerment, outreach, and education program that provides information and referral services for local teens. “COVID-19 compounded issues for Hawai‘i teens by affecting stress levels, sleep patterns, grades, eating habits, and social media behavior,” said Punahou Aina, DOH child and youth health specialist. “DOH recognizes the need [...]
Department of Health to bring health/digital navigators and telehealth support services to underserved communities
HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH) has partnered with the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System and the Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to bring COVID-19 health and digital navigators and telehealth services to 15 libraries in underserved and rural areas statewide. The $3.7 million project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address COVID-19 health disparities as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. “This collaboration is a unique opportunity to help Hawai‘i families in underserved communities move towards health and digital equity,” said [...]
Free COVID testing comes to Wahiawa
HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) will offer free COVID-19 rapid testing at the Wahiawa Civic Center three times in July. Tests will be offered Saturday, July 17 and Saturday, July 24 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Tuesday, July 20 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. “Variants and increased social interaction have fueled higher case counts among unvaccinated people the past week,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “COVID vaccines are our best path out of this pandemic. Testing is also vital, especially for people exhibiting COVID symptoms and unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to [...]