Free COVID testing available in Chinatown
HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) and Hawaii National Guard, is providing free COVID-19 testing at HPD’s Downtown Substation Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tests are conducted on a first come first serve basis. Appointments are not accepted. This location has the capacity to conduct 100 tests a day. Test results are usually available within 30 minutes. The testing site will remain open through March 11. It is closed weekends and holidays. Those wishing to be tested are reminded to wear a mask and asked to bring [...]
New COVID-19 hotline
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has a new hotline for people with questions about COVID-19. What should I do if I test positive? What should I do if I have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive? Who can get a booster shot? Those questions and more can be answered by calling the free hotline at (808) 586-8332. “The hotline provides information about isolation, quarantine, booster shots and more. It is especially useful for people who have tested positive or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. It is also useful [...]
Revised data shows increase in boosters administered & decrease in vaccinations completed
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has revised its reporting of the number of COVID-19 vaccination series completed and booster doses administered in Hawai‘i. The revisions are the result of a DOH review of vaccination reporting. Some booster doses administered to people who had received an initial Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been reported as second doses rather than booster doses. These doses, previously believed to have completed a person’s primary vaccination series, are now correctly recorded as booster doses. This revision results in the current percentage of the population that has received a booster dose increasing from [...]
Surging COVID-19 case counts & test volume force changes to data reporting and case investigation
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) will temporarily stop reporting specific data sets on Sunday, January 16 so its data collection and reporting system can continue to accurately process the thousands of positive tests recorded at laboratories daily. DOH systems have not been able to process the large volume of positive and negative cases in recent days. As a result, thousands of cases, both positive and negative, have not been reported. In order to expedite the processing and reporting of positive cases, DOH will suspend the processing of negative cases. This will allow for accurate positive case counts. [...]
DOH issues interim K-12 school guidance
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has updated interim COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance for K-12 schools. The updated guidance is closely aligned with new CDC guidance for schools. Isolation and quarantine times for students and staff who meet certain conditions have been reduced to 5 days. ISOLATION Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms should isolate for five days regardless of their vaccination status. They can return to school when all the following conditions are met: Five full days have passed since symptoms first appeared or since test was conducted. No fever [...]
Booster shot eligibility expands
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is adopting the most recent COVID-19 booster shot recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Effective immediately: DOH recommends a single Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine booster shot for everyone ages 12 - 17 who completed their primary vaccine series at least five months ago. People 18 and older who completed their primary series of Pfizer vaccine at least five months ago should get an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) booster. Moderately to severely immunocompromised children ages 5-11 should get an additional dose of the Pfizer vaccine 28 days after their [...]
DOH revises state’s isolation & quarantine policy
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is revising the state’s COVID-19 isolation and quarantine policies to closely align with recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These changes are effective Monday, January 3, 2022 for all DOH directed isolation and quarantine. If COVID-19 positive regardless of vaccination status Isolate for at least 5 days and until symptoms are gone. Continue to wear a mask for five days after isolation. If exposed to COVID-19 Boosted, or fully vaccinated within past six months (or within past 2 months if J&J) No need to quarantine Wear a [...]
DOH provides bridge COVID-19 testing during winter break
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is expanding access to free COVID-19 testing on O‘ahu by providing families with community testing options during winter break. “DOH recognizes the importance of providing increased testing capacity to families and the community, especially while school testing programs are paused during the winter break,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char, FACEP. “School-aged children and their families are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and test for COVID-19 before returning to school in January.” Bridge testing is available at the Waikiki Shell daily from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM and at the [...]
Additional Omicron cases detected in Hawai‘i
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division (SLD) has detected 24 additional cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529, also known as the Omicron variant. This brings the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in Hawai‘i to 74. While all Omicron cases detected thus far are on O‘ahu, four specimens from Hawaii Island and two specimens from Maui contain a molecular clue indicating they are likely Omicron. Whole genome sequencing will be performed to determine if they are Omicron. “Booster shots are more important than ever. Please get your booster shot now. People who have received booster shots [...]
Safe holiday celebrations
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) wishes everyone a joyous holiday season and reminds everyone to celebrate safely. “Please, if you are eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot, get it now. Protect yourself and show aloha for family and friends by exercising caution this holiday season,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char, FACEP. Here are things you can do to guard against COVID-19 during holiday get-togethers. Limit gatherings to household members Celebrate with fully vaccinated & boosted people Gather outside Wear masks inside Maintain distance Take extra precautions to protect kupuna and those who can’t get vaccinated Find [...]