Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest June 2, 2020
Governor’s Office: Governor Ige Messages State Employees About Interisland Travel In a message sent to all State of Hawai‘i employees today, Governor Ige again reiterated that the lifting of the interisland 14-day quarantine on June 16 is because, “Over the past few weeks, we have seen significant progress in our fight against the COVID-19 crisis. With fewer than five cases every day and several days of zero new cases, Hawaiʻi continues to be among the states leading the nation in controlling the spread of the virus, thanks to your commitment to following our physical distancing and health mandates.” The [...]
Hawai‘i Department of Health accelerating telehealth adoption among community health centers statewide to provide care to vulnerable populations during current pandemic
HONOLULU — When COVID-19 and social distancing guidance required healthcare providers to rethink the way they delivered care, larger healthcare organizations were able to rapidly pivot to telehealth and keep pace with the rest of the nation. But Hawai‘i’s community health centers—federally qualified health centers—needed assistance in getting up to speed to serve the state’s most vulnerable populations. Patients who receive care at these centers pay for their care on a sliding scale discount, depending upon their household incomes. With a combined total of $670,000 from the Hawai‘i State Legislature and federal telehealth grant awards, the Hawai‘i Department of Health [...]
Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest June 1, 2020
Governor’s Office: Mandatory Quarantine for Interisland Travel to be Lifted Effective June 16 Recognizing Hawai‘i’s national leadership in controlling the spread of COVID-19, Governor Ige announced the lifting of the 14-day quarantine for interisland travel effective two weeks from tomorrow (Tuesday, June 16, 2020). At an afternoon news briefing at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Governor Ige said, “This is an important step for everyone living in Hawai‘i. It will help reunite families and friends who have been separated due to the pandemic. And it’s an important step for the reopening of our kama‘aina economy.” The governor [...]
College student arrested for quarantine violation
Visitor Also Arrested Last Week HONOLULU – A student attending college in Hawai‘i was arrested this morning by Special Agents from the Investigation Division of the Dept. of the Attorney General. 21-year-old Venasio Vaipulu was reported by a witness. The witness told the special agents that on May 18, Vaipulu returned from spring break aware that he was under the State’s current 14-day mandatory traveler quarantine. The witness reports Vaipulu left his designated quarantine location nearly daily. Investigators went to the address looking for Vaipulu to learn that he had moved without informing the state of his new residence. [...]
Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest May 29, 2020
Department of Health: Three New Cases of COVID-19 on O‘ahu DOH reports three (3) new COVID-19 cases. Two (2) are adults and one (1) is a minor and all are from O‘ahu. Please note that the total case count only rises by two, as one O‘ahu case was removed after a presumptive positive specimen was retested and was ultimately negative. Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, May 29, 2020 Island of Diagnosis New Cases Reported since 2/28/2020 (including new cases) Total Released from Isolation* O‘ahu 3 419 397 Hawai‘i 0 82 82 Maui 0 116 105 Kaua‘i [...]
Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest May 28, 2020
Governor’s Office: Community Connection on Facebook Live Held with Four County Mayors Gov. Ige was joined by all four county mayors during today’s Community Connection session to discuss the reopening of businesses and activities in the state and counties. The leaders of the state answered public and media questions on what residents could expect in the coming weeks and months as Hawai‘i continues its fight against COVID-19. Viewers asked where and when pools would reopen, when camping will be allowed, and wanted updates on summer programs, and more. The mayors emphasized that their goal is to keep the [...]
Stepping Up for Youth Mental Health
How one Hawaii couple has taken care of its family’s mental health during the COVID-19 crisis. Daneen Sandry A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll revealed that nearly half of all Americans believe the coronavirus crisis is causing harm to their mental health. Here in Hawaii, mental health providers across the islands have been working especially hard throughout the pandemic to protect the well-being of their clients and communities. The past three months of living with COVID-19 have inspired some Hawaii residents to step up for mental-health awareness. Daneen Sandry and her husband Rick are two of these unsung [...]
Officers Out in Full Force Educating and Enforcing Beach Closures
HONOLULU – Beaches in the Waimanalo area were more empty today than usual on the first full day of Governor Ige’s emergency rules that has closed all beaches under State of Hawai‘i jurisdiction, other than to cross them to get to the ocean for exercise. On one stretch of sand, two fishermen were casting at the shoreline, more than the social distancing recommendation of at least six feet apart. A short distance away a couple lounged in beach chairs. The fishermen were within the rules set out by the Governor’s Fifth Supplementary Proclamation yesterday, but the beach loungers were [...]
Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest May 27, 2020
Department of Health: One New Case of COVID-19 Reported One (1) Hawai‘i island adult has tested positive for coronavirus according to the latest count from DOH. The new case comes after three consecutive days of zero (0) positive cases. Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, May 27, 2020 Island of Diagnosis New Cases Reported since 2/28/2020 (including new cases) Total Released from Isolation* O‘ahu 0 414 394 Hawai‘i 1 82 81 Maui 0 116 104 Kaua‘i 0 20 19 Moloka‘i 0 2 2 Lana‘i 0 0 0 Residents Diagnosed outside HI 0 10 Unknown 0 0 Total 1 [...]
Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest May 26, 2020
Governor’s Office: Three Days – Zero Cases During an afternoon news briefing Gov. David Ige called the Memorial Day weekend, “A great weekend in the fight against COVID-19. Including today, we have had three days in a row with no new cases. Zero.” He thanked everyone for their efforts which have resulted in Hawai‘i leading the nation in controlling the coronavirus outbreak. The governor again encouraged people to continue practicing our now common measures like face covering and social distancing, especially as more and more of the economy is reopening. “It must be done in a careful manner [...]