News Releases

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division (SLD) has detected a total of 13 cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617.2, also known as the Delta variant of concern. The Delta variant has been found on O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i island. “The rapid spread of the Delta variant is troubling, but not surprising,” said State Laboratories Division Administrator Dr. Edward Desmond. “Cases of this particular strain of COVID-19 have doubled every two weeks in other jurisdictions so we expected it to move quickly after it was first detected on O‘ahu earlier this month.” The Delta variant is [...]

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division (SLD) confirms the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617.2, also known as the Delta variant, has been detected in the islands. This strain of COVID-19 was first detected in India, where the virus sparked a public health crisis in April and May. The Delta variant now makes up approximately 6% of all cases in the United States. The State Laboratories Division routinely monitors for variants through genome sequencing surveillance. The variant was detected in a specimen from an O‘ahu resident, who traveled to Nevada in early May; the Delta variant was reported in [...]

HONOLULU – A recent Hawaii Department of Health-commissioned survey has confirmed the need to make vaccinations more accessible for those who face health and social disparities, and that getting vaccinated can contribute to a person’s overall sense of mental well-being. The survey was conducted among 482 adult Hawai‘i full-time residents statewide to assess perceptions about COVID-19 from April 20, 2021 to May 3, 2021. Anthology Research has been tracking resident attitudes and behaviors relating to the pandemic on a regular basis since April 2020. Overall, 68% of those polled have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of the [...]

HONOLULU - The State of Hawai‘i and community partners are expanding efforts to get more people in Hawai‘i vaccinated. #HIGotVaccinated Month will run through June and is aimed at educating and motivating Hawai‘i residents who have not yet received COVID-19 vaccinations. The business community is working together to offer incentives for vaccinated Hawai‘i residents, and Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) and healthcare providers are making the vaccine available in more locations than ever. “We appreciate the community rallying around the state’s COVID-19 vaccination effort and stepping up to encourage more Hawai‘i residents to get vaccinated,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth [...]

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health is unveiling its newest tool to help encourage more Hawai‘i residents to get vaccinated: COVID-19 vaccination progress maps. Based on vaccination data collected to date, the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Disease Outbreak Control Division has developed a new set of heat maps that show vaccination rates by ZIP code for each island. The maps will be used to identify potential vaccine deserts – areas where access to vaccine may be limited. The goal is to increase access through innovative community-based strategies. “The vaccine is our best tool to move forward together as a [...]

Restaurants, malls, farmers market & beach park to serve as walk-up vaccination sites HONOLULU - The Hawai‘i State Department of Health is partnering with community leaders to increase vaccination access over Memorial Day weekend. Vaccination sites are planned across the state at accessible locations such as malls, restaurants, farmers markets, and a beach park. These events augment the hundreds of sites statewide offering COVID-19 vaccinations through Points of Dispensing (PODs), pharmacies, and other outreach events. Additional opportunities can be found at HawaiiCOVID19.com/vaccine or @HawaiiDOH on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. “Thanks to the support of our community partners, it will be [...]