Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest June 8, 2020

Department of Health: 

Twelve New Cases Reported Since Friday

Since the report on Friday, June 5 at noon, there have been an additional twelve (12) cases of coronavirus reported in Hawai‘i. Today, DOH reports one (1) new case of an O‘ahu adult resident.

Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, June 8, 2020

Island of Diagnosis	New Cases	Reported since 2/28/2020 (including new cases)	Total Released from Isolation*
O‘ahu	1	442	404
Hawai‘i	0	81	81
Maui	0	118	111
Kaua‘i	0	21	20
Moloka‘i	0	2	2
Lana‘i	0	0	0
Residents Diagnosed outside HI	0	12
Unknown	0	0
Total	1	676
Total released from isolation			618
Deaths	0	17

* Includes cases that meet isolation release criteria.

Laboratory* Testing Data

There were 2,217 additional COVID-19 tests reported via electronic laboratory reporting.

Total Number of Individuals Tested by Clinical and State Laboratories	Positive	Negative
55,474**	674	54,786

*Electronic Laboratory Reporting  **14 test results were inconclusive

Hawaiicovid19.com

Additional Testing and Precautions Underway at Long-Term Care Facilities

DOH is investigating three positive cases, who are workers at a senior living facility and a long term skilled nursing facility on O‘ahu. None of these workers are involved in direct patient care. Two of the cases involve employees at Kalakaua Gardens and one is a worker at Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Both facilities already had universal masking for source control in place for all work areas, including the work areas where these cases were identified. They had also implemented physical distancing policies. As a result, no one at either facility is considered a close contact and no associated cases have been identified at this time. Additional testing of patients and staff is taking place as a precautionary measure. DOH will continue to monitor the situation, work with the facilities, and investigate any associated cases that may be identified.

DOH Provides $30,000 to Enable Virtual Visits with Kupuna in Skilled Nursing Facilities

23 skilled nursing facilities in the state will receive assistance for communications devices that will allow seniors at these facilities to stay in touch with their family and friends during the current pandemic. Since mid-March 2020, skilled nursing facilities have prohibited visitors and nonessential personnel from visiting their facilities to adhere to strict physical distancing guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect vulnerable seniors in these facilities.

“With restrictions on face-to-face, in-person visits still in place, the grants will provide the tools skilled nursing facilities need to provide emotional support for their residents,” said Keith Ridley, chief of the Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA), which oversees and regulates skilled nursing facilities.

Ridley said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave states authority to approve applications from skilled nursing facilities for COVID-19 communication technologies to expedite the approval process. The funds are provided as grants from the CMS Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment Program, are limited to $3,000 for each facility, and are earmarked for communication technologies such as tablets or other devices and accessories.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:

1,891 Passengers Arrive on Sunday

Yesterday, a total of 1,829 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 667 visitors and 563 returning residents. There was a total of 20 arriving flights. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday but does not show interisland travel.

AIRPORT ARRIVALS FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2020

	KONA	MAUI	O‘AHU	LĪHUʻE	TOTAL
Crew	10	12	156		178
Transit			108		108
Military			158		158
Exempt			123		123
Relocate to Hawai‘i	15	2	77		94
Returning Resident	28	45	490		563
Visitor	62	39	566		667
GRAND TOTAL	115	98	1,678	0	1,891
Flights	3	2	15	0	20

Monday News Release:

https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4712/060820-passenger-count-press-release.pdf

Sunday News Release:

https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4711/060720-passenger-count-press-release.pdf

Saturday News Release:

https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4709/060620-passenger-count-press-release.pdf

Department of Land and Natural Resources:

Update on Reopening of Hawai‘i State Parks

The DLNR Division of State Parks is lessening restrictions and reopening park areas in conjunction with various county-specific rules and guidelines. Passive beach use is now allowed at all State Parks beaches, although some gates will remain locked for resource management, people’s safety and due to fiscal constraints. COVID-19 rules and social distancing guidelines remain applicable, following each county’s emergency orders.

State Park camping and lodging will be phased in more slowly, again in compliance with county restrictions, but it is anticipated most overnight facilities will be open by July 1. State Park lodging and camping facilities are NOT allowable quarantine locations. “We are pleased that Hawaiʻi has been so successful in flattening the COVID-19 curve, which allows us to reopen more park areas – particularly some overnight opportunities, which lets families further enjoy Hawaiʻiʻs outdoors,” said State Parks Administrator Curt Cottrell. “However, please be aware that restrictions on park hours, group size, and certain activities remain in place, and we ask that all parks users adhere to these so we can keep slowly proceeding back to normal.”

For a full list of all parks status and restrictions, please visit: http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/

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PDF: COVID-19 Daily News Digest June 8, 2020