Dept. of Health:
DOH reports 14 positive test results today: All of the cases are adults, 12 are residents of the state, one (1) is a non-resident, and one (1) person’s residency is unknown at this time. Of the 14 new positive test results reported today, 10 are from Honolulu, two (2) from Hawai‘i Island, and two (2) from Maui County. There are 120 presumptive or positive cases to date, with the vast majority being Hawai‘i residents (100) and 16 non-Hawai‘i residents. To date, there have been more than 5,800 tests conducted for COVID-19 samples from Hawai‘i with 120 positive results.
DOH and the City & County of Honolulu have mobilized public, private and nonprofit support to provide COVID-19 testing and quarantine services for the homeless community at 524 Ka‘a‘ahi Street in Iwilei. Today, plans were announced to open the COVID-19 Medical Triage and Quarantine Center and provide mobile testing to serve homeless individuals on O‘ahu early next week. “Bringing together government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector is especially important; the partnership allows us to fund, set up, and operate critical services in far less time than any of us would be able to achieve on our own,” said Gov. Ige. “As we find solutions to overcome the threat of COVID-19, it’s these types of local, collaborative efforts that will make a difference in our community.”
https://health.hawaii.gov/camhd/bhhsurg-covid19-guidance/
With expanded COVID-19 testing, people may see many new testing services offered by private businesses throughout the state. Laboratories must have a CLIA certificate to perform COVID-19 testing. Under CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), laboratories are prohibited from testing human specimens for the purpose of diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or health assessment without a valid CLIA certificate. However, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has instituted an expedited application process for laboratories interested in pursuing a CLIA certificate.
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality-safety-oversight-general-information/coronavirus
At this time, the DOH is not recommending the adoption of blood testing methods for COVID-19. These blood tests have the possibility to be misleading, and their performance characteristics have not been established.
Hawai‘i WIC (Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Nutrition Program) continues to provide services during this public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus. At this time, WIC staff are available by phone, there is no need to go to a clinic in-person. Call your clinic directly with any questions. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding an infant, gave birth in the last 6 months, or have a child younger than 5 years old, contact a WIC clinic near you to apply for services.
Attention Wahiawa and North Shore WIC participants: Although a building fire destroyed the Wahiawa clinic at 830 California Avenue on Tuesday, March 24, the staff are continuing to provide services over the phone. For assistance, please leave a message at (808) 622-6458.
https://health.hawaii.gov/wic/
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:
Yesterday, 1,589 passengers arrived in Hawai‘i on the first day of the state’s 14-day mandatory self-quarantine for all incoming passengers. Of that number, 268 people were visitors, and most of them were either crew members or returning residents. In comparison, last year at the end of March, more than 30,000 passengers arrived in Hawai‘i daily, including residents and visitors.
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4327/032720-passenger-count-press-release.pdf
Dept. of Business, Economic Development and Tourism:
Visitor statistic information:
https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/visitor/
Domestic arrivals by island from March 2019 compared to March 2020. Please note data from the past few days not available yet:
http://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/economic/data_reports/special/domestic/Domestic-Mar20.pdf
Dept. of Public Safety:
As of today no one incarcerated in Hawai‘i have met PUI (Persons Under Investigation) criteria for COVID-19. PSD is very aware of the risks of over-population and crowding in jails, especially during this pandemic. The department is taking proactive measures with criminal justice partners to identify ways to temporarily reduce jail/prison populations while maintaining safety for the community. Among the measures already in place or being considered are greater use of video conferencing for arraignments and plea & bail motions, and enhanced screenings at entry points to avoid the virus from being introduced into any facilities.
Dept. of Transportation
If you’ve been on the roads you already know that traffic is light. This is allowing HDOT Highways Division to take advantage of lower than normal traffic volumes to conduct maintenance and improvements around the state. HART has been given permission to work extended hours. HDOT is monitoring all extended closures and will make adjustments as needed.
Weekly closure information:
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/
Hawai‘i State Senate
Today the Senate’s Special Committee on COVID-19 met to confirm the development of state departmental plans and procedures. During the meeting senators were expected to review and assess those efforts to ensure timely implementation, as well as communications and information dissemination to state residents. The committee received reports from U.S. Senator Brian Schatz on the federal stimulus package and reports from the governor’s office, DOH,
HI-EMA, DOT, DPS,and the attorney general. Additional reports came from representatives of the health care industry.
Denby Fawcett: Why So Few People Are Getting The New Covid Shot
Experts are worried about the lack of interest as people are still suffering from the virus and long Covid. By Denby Fawcett Original article on Civil Beat, November 7, 2023 I keep a card in my [...]
Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 ends on May 11, 2023
HONOLULU, HI –The federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, will expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. As the PHE [...]
Seniors now eligible for additional COVID-19 bivalent booster dose, COVID vaccine recommendations simplified
HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) supports the latest recommendations announced yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allowing an additional dose of the bivalent booster against the virus [...]
Hawai‘i COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise
HONOLULU, HI – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) reports a rise in the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations. The number of total positive COVID-19 hospitalizations has increased over the past week (3/26 – 4/4) from [...]
Wastewater Samples Show Higher COVID Concentrations & New Subvariant
The Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s most recent Wastewater Surveillance Report documents two significant developments about COVID-19 in Hawai‛i. Higher concentrations of the virus that causes COVID-19 The arrival of the XBB.1.5 subvariant Higher concentrations [...]
Bivalent boosters for keiki as young as 6 months
Updated COVID-19 bivalent boosters are now available in all counties for keiki as young as six months of age. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorization for the bivalent boosters [...]