Independent pharmacies administer COVID-19 vaccinations at nearly 90% of small care homes on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Island
HONOLULU – Independent pharmacies on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island have administered first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to about 10,000 residents and caregivers in approximately 1,700 small care homes and have now begun returning to administer second doses. As of mid-February, 1,537 small care homes on O‘ahu and 152 small care homes on Hawai‘i Island, or about 90% of the total number of such facilities on those islands, received vaccination visits. Five major categories of homes were visited: Adult Residential Care Homes (ARCHs), most of which house five or less residents; Community Care Foster Family Homes; Developmental Disabilities Domiciliary [...]
Johnson & Johnson vaccine available across Hawai‘i
HONOLULU – Initial public reaction to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Hawai‘i has been very positive, highlighting its value in the fight against COVID-19. Its proven ability to reduce severe illness and hospitalization after just one shot makes it an attractive option for people across the state. Those who are currently eligible under the state’s vaccination plan can choose the single-shot Johnson and Johnson regimen by complete this survey at https://hawaiicovid19.com/vaccination-registration/. Demand for vaccines is still greater than supply. Therefore, only people age 60 and older and those in phase 1a and 1b of the vaccination plan are currently [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest March 8, 2021
Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ Daily and Weekly Preliminary Vaccine Administration Updates The charts below will be included in the Daily News Digest, Monday-Friday. 45 New COVID-19 Cases Reported DOH reports 45 new cases of coronavirus today, with 21 cases on O‘ahu, 11 on Maui, 10 on Hawai‘i Island, and three (3) diagnosed out-of-state. 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 daily: HawaiiCOVID19.com/dashboard. Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 11:59 p.m. March 6, 2021 Island of Diagnosis New Cases [...]
Highly transmissible variant detected in Hawai‘i
HONOLULU – The Department of Health State Laboratories Division (SLD) has detected a new variant of concern. This new strain has the technical name B.1.351 and is sometimes referred to as the South African variant. It was found in an O‘ahu resident with no travel history. “This is concerning because B.1.351 has a mutation that makes it more transmissible from one person to another, and a separate mutation that might make it less responsive to the antibodies we form when we have COVID or get vaccinated,” said SLD Director Dr. Edward Desmond. The mutation that increases transmissibility is called N501Y. [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest March 5, 2021
Office of the Governor: Governor approves Kaua‘i’s re-entry into Safe Travels for Trans-Pacific travelers Gov. David Ige has approved Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to rejoin the Safe Travels pre-travel testing program for Trans-Pacific travel, effective April 5, 2021. Existing rules for travel to Kaua‘i remain in place until that date. Gov. Ige said, “This emergency rule will simplify travel to Hawai‘i by including Kaua‘i in the existing Safe Travels program. The increased restrictions over the winter months helped Mayor Kawakami safely balance travel with the health and safety of residents and visitors on the Garden Island.” Kaua‘i mayor Derek [...]
Department of Health expands mental health assistance in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health, in collaboration with CARE Hawaii, launched a new crisis counseling assistance program to provide support for children and adults experiencing challenges due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The expansion was made possible by a $2.1 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The new program, called “Kū Makani – The Hawai’i Resiliency Project,” offers counseling, education, information, and resource navigation while promoting healthy coping, empowerment, and resilience. The phrase ‘a‘ali‘i kū makani refers to the ‘a‘ali‘i plant which grows even in [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest March 4, 2021
Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ Daily and Weekly Preliminary Vaccine Administration Updates The charts below will be included in the Daily News Digest, Monday-Friday. Vaccinations for People 70+ Begin Next Monday Beginning Monday, March 8 the state is expanding the pool of those eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. “We are excited to be ahead of schedule and pleased that we can now provide another layer of protection to this vulnerable population,” said State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. Thus far vaccines have been reserved for healthcare workers, those in long-term care facilities, frontline essential workers and kūpuna 75 and older. “We have vaccinated enough people [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest March 3, 2021
Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ Weekly COVID-19 Cluster Report (March 3, 2021) Daily and Weekly Preliminary Vaccine Administration Updates The charts below will be included in the Daily News Digest, Monday-Friday. 20 New COVID-19 Cases and Two Additional Deaths DOH reports 20 new cases of coronavirus. This is the lowest statewide case count since late July 2020. There were two additional deaths reported. O‘ahu 1 man, 60-69 yrs, underlying conditions, hospitalized 1 woman, 70-79 yrs, underlying conditions, hospitalized This report includes cases up until Monday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the State COVID-19 dashboard and on the [...]
Vaccinations for those 70 and older begin Monday, March 8
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health announces the state is expanding the pool of those eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations by offering vaccinations to people age 70 and older beginning Monday, March 8. “We are excited to be ahead of schedule and pleased that we can now provide another layer of protection to this vulnerable population,” said State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char. Thus far vaccines have been reserved for healthcare workers, those in long-term care facilities, frontline essential workers and kūpuna 75 and older. “We have vaccinated enough people in those groups that we are able to open eligibility [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest March 2, 2021
Governor’s Office: HB 1278/Act 1 Reduces Employer Unemployment Contributions At an afternoon news conference Governor David Ige signed House Bill 1278 which relates to the Unemployment Insurance Contribution Schedule for businesses and non-profit organizations. Before the COVID-19 pandemic the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund had a half billion- dollar reserve. By last June, it was drained, and the state began borrowing from the federal government. “To help our business community, I have directed the state to pay for any interest owning on this loan, which amounts to approximately $30 million annually,” Gov. Ige said. He added that the federal government may [...]