Variants are dominant COVID-19 in Hawai‘i
HONOLULU – A report by the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division (SLD) shows COVID-19 (SARS-Cov-2) variants of concern account for a greater percentage of total COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i than ever and that percentage continues to increase. SLD also reports a growing presence of the P.1 variant which is highly infectious and may be more resistant to antibodies from vaccination or previous infection. “Variants of concern now make up more than 90% of the genomes sequenced by our lab,” said SLD Director Dr. Edward Desmond. “We detected our first variants in January and in just four months they have [...]
Hawai‘i Department of Health offers free COVID-19 testing before Memorial Day weekend activities
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is offering 150 free COVID-19 rapid tests at Windward Mall in Kāneʻohe on Wednesday, May 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Test results will be available within 15 minutes. Know you’re safe and COVID-19 free before or after getting together with friends and family for graduation and Memorial Day events. “A year ago, COVID-19 led to canceled graduation ceremonies and Memorial Day remembrances,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “This year, we ask for your continued caution in keeping our communities safe.” Windward Mall is located at 46-056 Kamehameha Highway. Parking [...]
Department of Health to add probable cases to state’s case count & mask survey concludes
HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH) will add probable COVID-19 cases to the state's case count beginning Wednesday, May 19. This enhanced metric will reflect a more realistic account of the prevalence of COVID infections in the state. “People who test positive with an antigen test, but do not confirm infection by taking a PCR test are counted as probable cases,” said Acting State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble. “Testing technology is evolving and we anticipate using more rapid antigen testing more often as time goes on. Counting probable cases will give us a more complete picture of COVID in [...]
Department of Health offers free COVID testing at Windward Mall
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is offering free COVID-19 rapid testing at Windward Mall in Kāneʻohe Wednesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Test results will be available within 15 minutes. Recent COVID-19 outbreaks linked to a youth football tournament and performing arts center on O‘ahu. DOH continues to monitor the rise in COVID cases and provide pop-up testing clinics to affected communities to help save lives. “Testing remains an essential part of the strategy to fight COVID-19 in our community,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “We are working to make testing convenient, [...]
State’s microbiologists provide genomic virus data to shape future pandemic response
Science confirms value of vaccinations HONOLULU – A team of about a dozen microbiologists and other professionals has been on an important mission for more than a year: to collect and analyze data on the coronavirus to help epidemiologists determine how best to respond to the ongoing pandemic. They’re part of a genomic surveillance project of the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division, led by Pamela O’Brien, who has been working in the lab for more than 16 years. The team works in the stately lab building, tucked away on Waimano Ridge, high above Pearl Harbor. The serene, peaceful [...]
Kaua‘i District Health Office issues green placard to Olympic Café after closure earlier this week
KAUA‘I – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch at the Kaua‘i District Health Office issued a green placard today to the Olympic Café located at 1354 Kuhio Highway in Kapa’a. The restaurant’s food establishment permit has been reinstated after it was issued a red placard earlier this week on May 10. The Olympic Café was closed on Monday after a Department of Health Food Safety Branch inspector responded to complaints about the establishment’s violations of mask use requirements. A red placard was issued as a result of investigations conducted on May 4 and May 10 when an [...]
CDC recommends Pfizer COVID vaccine for 12-15-year-olds
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health is pleased adolescents age 12 to 15 are now eligible for COVID vaccines. Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that 12 to 15-year-olds receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The recommendation comes two days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded emergency use authorization for the vaccine to include people age 12 and older. “This vaccine is safe and very effective, especially in this age group.” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. “The vaccine offers another layer of protection and will help to lessen transmission and illness, which will protect young [...]
Temporary increase of WIC cash value benefits
Financial relief for Hawaiʻi WIC families HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program will increase their cash value benefit (CVB) to $35 for first-use dates of June, July, August, and September. In addition to the CVB that participants can use to purchase fruits and vegetables at authorized WIC vendors, participants receive milk, cereal, juice, whole grains, beans, peanut butter, and baby food as part of their monthly benefits. Funding for the temporary increase comes from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). “This pandemic has been incredibly hard on Hawaiʻi families,” said Melanie Murakami, Branch Chief, [...]
Leeward and Windward vaccination PODs wind down as state enters next stage of vaccination rollout
HONOLULU – The vaccination clinics or Points of Dispensing (PODs) in Leeward and Windward Oahu that have been in operation for the past five months have been critical to the state’s rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations. With the vaccine now available at more sites, however, these PODs will be winding down this week. This Thursday, May 13, will be the last day of operations for both PODs. Residents are urged to make an appointment or walk-in at either POD before they close. Hours of operation at the POD at Leeward Community College will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, [...]
Department of Health and University of Hawai‘i launch ‘one-stop shop’ behavioral health dashboard
HONOLULU – Just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month, a new data dashboard tracking behavioral health provides key information and statistics on substance use, homelessness and mental health in Hawai‘i. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Center on Aging, Pacific Health Analytics Collaborative (PHAC), has launched the Hawai‘i Behavioral Health Dashboard. This new online tool tracks progress toward improving our system of care and services provided in each of these three areas. “This new resource is a ‘one-stop shop’ for anyone needing information on behavioral health in the state,” [...]