News Releases

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 [...]

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 [...]

New data provides a more accurate picture of vaccinations in Hawai‘i

Vaccination rates by county and age now include federal doses HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s COVID-19 data are more detailed thanks to statistical information on federal program vaccine recipients. Beginning today the Department of Health’s Disease Outbreak Control Division data dashboard reflects new data provided by federal agencies. This includes new information on where the vaccines were administered and the age of the people who received the vaccinations. The improved data shows an increase in the percentage of persons who have completed their vaccinations in all counties.   Vaccinations with federal data Vaccinations without federal data Honolulu County [...]

#HIGotVaccinated Announces June Campaign Impact, Plans to Extend Campaign

HONOLULU- Hawai‘i’s #HIGotVaccinated campaign gave the state’s vaccination effort a shot in the arm. The campaign’s positive impact and the ongoing need to get more people vaccinated have organizers excited about extending the #HIGotVaccinated campaign – with new prizes – through July and into August. Prior to the #HIGotVaccinated campaign, the average number of new weekly vaccinations was on the decline. Based on the observed rate of a 20% weekly decline in the statewide vaccination rates in the weeks leading up to the campaign, DOH created a model predicting the number of vaccinations that would have been expected for these [...]

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