COVID-19 Daily Update: 3/31/2020
HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST
March 31, 2020
Office of the Governor:
Governor Ige Extends Condolences to Family of First COVID-19 Patient
An older adult O‘ahu resident, who was hospitalized with multiple medical issues, is the first person in Hawai‘i diagnosed with COVID-19 to die. Gov. Ige, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, State Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson, and Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency Director Kenneth Hara all expressed sorrow for the loss of one of Hawai‘i’s kupuna and offered their condolences to the family. The exact cause of death has not been determined.
Additional Details on Interisland Travel Restrictions
Gov. David Ige today signed a fourth supplementary proclamation that requires all residents and visitors traveling between any of the islands in the State of Hawai‘i to self-quarantine for 14 days. Those who must travel to perform an essential function, including those providing and seeking medical care, will have to fill out and sign an Interisland Declaration Form, wear appropriate protective gear – primarily masks, and follow all social distancing requirements. The quarantine mandate takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wed., Apr. 1. Violations of this order could result in a misdemeanor with fines of up to $5,000 and/or up to one year in prison, or both. If you have questions about whether your travel is essential, please e-mail CovidExemption@hawaii.gov
Craft Rum Distillery Producing FDA-Approved Hand Sanitizer During Pandemic
Last Saturday, a 55-gallon barrel of hand sanitizer rolled from the vat room of a distillery in Kunia, to staff and volunteers waiting next door in the tasting room. This is the result of Gov. David Ige and the co-founders of KoHana Hawaiian Agricole Rum organizing a local business hui to manufacture hundreds of gallons of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved hand sanitizer for use during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Video: https://vimeo.com/402014890
Department of Health:
First Death from COVID-19 Reported
The department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of an elderly O‘ahu man, who tested positive for COVID-19. DOH reports 20 additional COVID-19 cases today and all are adults. All but one of the cases are residents of Hawai‘i. DOH is also reporting the first positive case from sentinel surveillance. There are now 224 presumptive or positive cases of the coronavirus in the state.
Please visit the DOH website visit for more detailed diagnosis and testing information:
New case maps and epidemic curve graph posted online
DOH has posted new case maps and an epidemic curve of all Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by Residence and Exposure in Hawai‘i. The epidemic curve shows the number of confirmed cases by date of symptom onset indicating cases that are travel associated (residents and visitors), community, or unknown. The maps will be updated weekly and epidemic curve will be updated daily. The island maps show cases by residence zip codes and do not show where exposure or disease transmission is occurring. The maps provide information that could be used for planning county resources and where those resources may be needed. There are no cases on Molokai and Lanai at this time.
https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/
COVID-19 Awareness Campaign Featuring Frank De Lima Begins
“Stay Healthy, Stay at Home” is the title of a new campaign on TV, radio, newspaper and digital, encouraging adults, especially seniors, to practice social distancing and good hygiene to prevent further spread of COVID-19. DOH has teamed with local funny man Frank De Lima to use humor to empower people to take simple actions to protect themselves and their loved ones during this worldwide health crisis. De Lima—a senior himself—was a natural fit for the campaign, having released his “Corona, Corona” song about the virus woes earlier this month
View the public service announcements and get the latest info about coronavirus at HawaiiCOVID19.com/resources
Interim Guidance for Dental Service Providers During COVID-19 Response
To conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and limit the exposure of patients and staff to COVID-19, the CDC recommends that dental service providers postpone elective procedures, surgeries, and non-urgent dental visits. Patients should be contacted prior to urgent or emergency procedures to be screened for symptoms of respiratory illness.
For further guidelines:
cdc/gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/dental-settings.html.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:
Passenger Numbers Continue Dropping
Yesterday, 681 passengers arrived in Hawai‘i on the fifth day of the state’s 14-day mandatory self-quarantine for all incoming passengers. Of that number, 121 people were visitors, who must self-quarantine in their hotels or lodging.
Department of the Attorney General:
AG Joins Coalition Asking FDA to Increase Access to Reproductive Tele-Health Care
Hawai‘i Attorney General Clare E. Connors has joined a multistate coalition of 21 attorneys general, led by California, in sending a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting that they increase access to reproductive healthcare, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition urges the Administration to waive or utilize its discretion on enforcement of its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) designation, which impedes women’s access to the medication abortion prescription drug known as Mifepristone. “During this COVID crisis, the federal government should remove barriers to critical healthcare,” said Attorney General Connors.
Read the letter here:
https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/FINAL-AG-Letter-HHS-Medication-Abortion-2020-9.pdf
Green Infrastructure Authority Board:
GEMS Loan Deferrals Approved
The Board of Directors of the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA) has approved an emergency postponement of loan payments for GEMS Program direct loans and on-bill loans in an effort to lessen the financial impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on residents and businesses in Hawaii. The approval allows interested borrowers of loans under the GEMS Program to opt-in to defer payments for up to six months. For more information visit www.gems.hawaii.gov.
Media Contacts:
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center
Phone: (808) 354-4263
Email: hawaiicovid19@gmail.com
COVID-19 Daily Update: 3/30/2020
HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST
March 30, 2020
Office of the Governor:
Inter-island Travel Now Requires 14-Day Self-Quarantine
During today’s news briefing, Governor Ige announced that anyone traveling between islands will now be required to self-quarantine in their home or other lodging for 14 days. This does not apply to those who are considered essential workers, but they are required to wear personal protective equipment during flights.This mandatory rule takes effect at midnight, Wednesday, April 1 and continues until April 30. It is intended to further stop community spread of the coronavirus in Hawai‘i. The governor reiterated his top priority is the health and safety of Hawai‘i’s people and said it is “more important than ever to continue to practice social distancing. We cannot let our guard down.”
Hawai‘i to Receive at Least $4 Billion in Federal Aid Under CARES Act
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (by phone) and Congressman Ed Case joined Governor Ige for today’s briefing to announce the federal government’s CARES Act will provide a minimum of $4 billion to Hawai‘i. Among the benefits provided by the infusion of funding are increased unemployment payments and a whole host of other benefits to bolster businesses and individuals suffering economically during the crisis. Additional federal aid is expected in the future.
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-set-to-receive-at-least-4-billion-in-federal-coronavirus-relief-funding-additional-federal-aid-expected
Governor Ige Issues Executive Order Suspending Certain State Laws During Crisis
On Sunday, Governor Ige signed Executive Order No. 20-02, which suspends certain state laws in order for county and state agencies to engage in emergency management functions. This suspension applies to:
· firearms registrations
· wages and hours for government contractors
· charter school rules
· controlled substances registrations & dispensing
· child-care licensing
· criminal history record checks
· tele-health
· notary publics
· sex offender registrations
· certain employment and workers compensation laws
http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-06/
Office of the Lt. Governor:
Update from Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, State Healthcare Liaison for COVID-19
Lt. Gov. Green continues to work with Governor David Ige, General Kenneth Hara and the healthcare community to evaluate Hawai‘i’s healthcare capacity and prepare for any possible surge in COVID-19 cases and individuals needing hospitalization.
Updated hospital capacity as of March 30, 2020:
Number of OHCA licensed beds
2,757
Number of ICU beds
338
Number of ventilators
534
Number of beds excluding ICU beds
2,419
Number of beds occupied-32%
893
Number of ICU beds occupied-37%
126
Number of ventilators in use-11%
58
Source: Healthcare Association of Hawaii
____________________________________________________________________________
Department of Health:
Total Number of COVID-19 Cases Increases by 29
DOH reports 29 positive test results today for a total number of 204 cases in Hawai‘i since Feb. 28. One (1) of today’s cases is a pediatric patient and the remainder are adults (28).
HAWAI‘I COVID-19 COUNTS
(As of 12 noon, March 30, 2020)
All of the new cases are residents of the state, from the following counties:
City and County of Honolulu:
15
County of Hawai‘i:
2
County of Maui:
5
County of Kaua‘i
0
Pending (county of diagnosis or residency under investigation)
7
†Some counts may be higher because of cases previously classified “unknown” being re-classified to other categories. Pending/unknown information will continue to be reconciled as DOH completes investigations.
In total, of all cases reported to-date, 175 are Hawai‘i residents, twenty (20) are non-residents, and place of residence for nine (9) people is unknown.
TESTS BY CLINICAL LABORATORIES AND STATE LAB (As of 12 noon, March 30, 2020)
Inconclusive
Neg
Pos.
Totals
Clinical Laboratories
7
8080
186
8273
Div. of State Laboratories
0
389
13
402
Hawai‘i Totals
7
8469
199
8675
* If a person was tested both by clinical labs and SLD, the test by clinical labs will be included
while the test by SLD will be removed DOH can capture “Unique Individuals.” The table uses investigations generated through electronic laboratory reports . It does not include non-electronic lab reports.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:
Airline Arrivals Continue to Drop
The number of passengers flying into Hawai‘i continues to drop in light of the state’s 14-day mandatory self-quarantine for all incoming passengers. Sunday, the fourth day of the rule, saw 826 people arriving at State airports. Compared to March 2019, on average more than 30,000 people arrived in the state each day.
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/news-releases/2020/hawaii-passenger-arrivals-by-air-4/
Department of Transportation:
No Stopping Allowed for Arriving Passengers
The DOT is reiterating that self-quarantined arriving passengers are not allowed to stop off anywhere, including grocery or big box stores before going home or to their lodging. There are numerous services available that will deliver groceries to people in self-quarantine.
Hawai‘i Community Development Authority:
Kolowalu Parks Closed
The HCDA has closed its Kolowalu Parks on Queen Street in Honolulu to facilitate social distancing and reduce the risk of the potential spread of Covid-19. The parks will be reopened once the novel coronavirus is no longer a threat.
____________________________________________________________________________
Department of Human Services:
Aggressive Actions Underway to Protect People and Families
DHS’s leadership and community stakeholders are working to ensure that all services of the agency are continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, though with modifications. Like all state agencies and many businesses this mean limiting face-to-face contact with people, especially those vulnerable to the novel corona virus. The operational modifications impact programs like:
· Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
· Kupuna services
· Child-care facilities and homes
· Child welfare
· Adult protective services
· Health care coverage
· Support for people with disabilities
· Support for the houseless population.
Department of Education:
Grab-and-Go Program Ensuring Keiki are Fed
In the first week of Grab-and-Go school meal distribution, nearly 16,000 breakfasts & 30,000 lunches were served to children at 38 school sites (not including the Kuhio Day holiday). Eight more school distribution sites are starting this week, increasing the total number of school sites to 46 on Wednesday, and more locations are being planned. The sites provide meals to all children 18 and younger. They do not have to attend the school site location but must be present to receive meals.
See details and locations at:
Media Contacts:
Hawai‘ COVID-19 Joint Information Center
Phone: 808.354-4263
Email: hawaiicovid19@gmail.com
COVID-19 Daily Update: 3/29/2020
HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST
March 29, 2020
Dept. of Health:
Positive Test Results for COVID-19 Now at 175
DOH reports 24 positive test results today and all of the new cases are adults, none of whom have required hospitalization. All but one of the new cases are residents of the state, and only one (1) non-resident, who tested positive on Hawai‘i Island. Of the 24 new positive test results reported today, 11 are from the City & County of Honolulu, two (2) from the County of Hawai‘i, four (4) from Maui County and one (1) from the County of Kaua‘i. County of diagnosis or residency is pending in 6 (six) cases. There are 175 presumptive or positive cases to date, with the vast majority being Hawai‘i residents (145) and (20) non-residents. To date, 10 cases have unknown residency. There have been nearly 8,000 laboratory tests conducted for COVID-19 samples. Sentinel testing is still on-going and private clinical laboratories are now testing all samples for flu-related illnesses in addition to COVID-19.
“We need to continue practicing social distancing because it is a way to lower the curve of COVID-19 in Hawai‘i. Everyone needs to take the measures implemented seriously and abide by those requirements”, said Health Director Bruce Anderson.
DOH is continuing to aggressively investigate all cases reported and tracing contacts. Most of these are now being reported through private clinical laboratories. To date, more than 7,500 results have been received from private laboratories and, of these, 159 have been positive for COVID- 19. The balance of those tested and found to be positive (13) were identified through State Laboratory testing before the private clinical laboratories were able to test for COVID-19. The State Laboratory continues to serve as a reference laboratory for Hawai‘i and other Pacific Island jurisdictions.
https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/
University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine
Jabsom Researcher & Wuhan Colleagues Find Hypnotics Improves COVID-19 Outcomes
Twenty researchers including JABSOM’s Dr. Youping Deng found beneficial effects of hypnotics on clinical outcoes in the management of COVID-19 patients. The research team, which was co-led by a researcher from the Wuhan University of Science and Technology, reviewed the charts of 323 COVID-19 patients in hospitals from Jan. 8 – Feb. 20, 2020. A quarter of the patients were give a hypnotic drug used to treat insomnia, and 77 of the 82 had better clinical outcomes and were discharged. Of the five who had unfavorable outcomes, only one died.
Media Contacts:
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center
Phone: 808.354-4263
Email: hawaiicovid19@gmail.com
Hawaii COVID-19 Contact Tracing Questionnaire
Hawaii is at high risk for the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic because of many visitors and residents traveling into our state from places with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Because of our remote location and shortage of testing, additional data is needed on who might be infected to stop the virus. You can help by identifying where the disease may have spread in our community. Please complete the questionnaire below and distribute the survey link to others you know in Hawaii who are at risk of being infected.
Survey link: https://tinyurl.com/svh3m7z
This research is being conducted by the University of Hawaii, National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (ndptc.hawaii.edu). All personal information will be kept strictly confidential. The research protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of Hawaii.
If you have any questions regarding this research project, please contact:
Eric Yamashita (ericyama@hawaii.edu)
Jiwnath Ghimire (jiwnath@hawaii.edu)
Phone number: 1-808-956-0600
COVID-19 Daily Update: 3-28-2020
HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST
March 28, 2020
Dept. of Health:
Today’s Report of Positive Test Results for COVID-19
DOH reports 29 positive test results today: One (1) of the cases is a minor and the rest are adults, 24 are residents of the state, three (3) are non-residents, and information is pending on two cases. Of the 29 new positive test results reported today, 19 are from the County of Honolulu, three (3) from the County of Hawai‘i, and six (6) from the County Kaua‘i, one (1) is unknown. There are 151 presumptive or positive cases to date, with the vast majority being Hawai‘i residents (126) and 19 non-Hawai‘i residents (to date, six cases have unknown residency). There have been nearly 7,000 laboratory tests conducted for COVID-19 samples from Hawai‘i with 151 positive results to date.
https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/
Warning About Use of Antimalaria Drugs for COVID-19
DOH warns everyone about the hazards and dangers of using non-approved drugs for COVID-19. Antimalarial drugs have been recently reported as possible treatments for the novel coronavirus. “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine can cause severe cardiac toxicity, and in high doses over a long duration, can cause retinal damage and lead to permanent blindness,” said Dr. Alvin Bronstein, DOH Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch Chief. “Individuals using these medications without physician supervision run serious risks of side effects and potential overdoses. Other medications are being touted, but nothing has been proven to be effective and may even do more harm than good.”
If you or someone you know has taken chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine and are experiencing adverse reactions, call 911, the Hawai‘i Regional Poison Center (800-222-1222) or seek immediate medical care.
https://piper.filecamp.com/uniq/Klk1IGw3Mzt29mhN.pdf
Sentinel Surveillance Testing Results
DOH is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct community sentinel surveillance testing to detect community transmission of COVID-19 among patients who have mild to moderate febrile respiratory illness. To date, the Sentinel Surveillance Program for COVID-19 has tested more than 350 samples from individuals throughout the state with negative test results. The samples were collected from providers throughout the state selected to ensure geographic and age representation proportional to the state’s population.
https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/for-clinicians/sentinel-and-influenza-surveillance/
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:
Number of Incoming Passengers Continues to Fall
The number of passengers flying into Hawai‘i continues to drop. On Friday, 1,221 arrived at state airports, on the second day of the state’s 14-day mandatory self-quarantine for all incoming passengers. Only 180 of the people were visitors. The majority were either returning residents or arline crew members. O‘ahu saw the highest number of passengers at 1,063. Kahului International Airport on Maui had 87 passengers, Kona International on Hawai‘i Island had 45 and Līhuʻe International Airport saw 26 passengers.
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4330/032820-passenger-count-press-release.pdf
HTA Thanks Visitor Industry Leaders for Actions
HTA President & CEO Chris Tatum sent a letter to state tourism leaders thanking them for coordinating the movement of more than 250,000 visitors from the state and preventing additional visitors from arriving during the crisis. Tatum termed the impact on businesses and employees as heartbreaking but wrote “your commitment to the health of our families and community has been inspiring.” He also recognized airlines for continuing limited services while maintaining connections for cargo and emergency support. 98 hotels have suspended operations across the state and that number is expected to increase.
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs:
Insurers Urged to Work with Customers During Crisis
State Insurance Commissioner Colin Hayashida sent a memo yesterday to all admitted and non-admitted insurers offering policies in Hawai‘i. He noted that businesses are experiencing substansially reduced revenue and employees are experiencing reduced hours or job losses, with far-reaching repercusions on the horizon. Hayashida is asking insurers not to cancel or not renew policies for failure to pay premimums during this time of hardship. You can read the entire memo here:
https://cca.hawaii.gov/ins/files/2020/03/IC-Memo-2020-3I.pdf
Hawai‘i House of Representatives
Economic & Financial Preparedness Select Committee to Meet
The House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Finanacial Preparedness is holding its second informational briefing on the economic impact of the pandemic on Hawai‘i on Monday, March 30 at 10:00 a.m. To comply with restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus the hearing will not be open and no public testimony will be accepted. The hearing will be broadcast on ‘Olelo channel 49. It can also be viewed live online via of these links.
http://olelo.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=31
Media Contacts:
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center
Phone: 808.354-4263
Email: hawaiicovid19@gmail.com
COVID-19 Daily Update: 3-27-2020
HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST
March 27, 2020
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‘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 represenatives of the health care industry.
Media Contacts:
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center
Phone: 808.354-4263
Email: hawaiicovid19@gmail.com
School Facilities Closed To Students Through April 30 With The Exception Of Grab-And-Go Meal Sites
For Immediate Release
Mar. 24, 2020
School facilities closed to students through April 30 with the exception of grab-and-go meal sites
The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced today school facilities will remain closed to students through April 30, based on the latest guidance and information from health officials and elected leaders. Traditional, in-school instruction is on hold until schools reopen.
“I want to thank each and every one of the Department’s 44,000 employees for working in new ways during these unprecedented times,” Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto said. “These are uncertain and anxious circumstances for everyone in our communities and we sincerely appreciate your patience as our response to this health crisis continues to evolve and we make the needed adjustments for health and safety.”
The Department, along with charter schools, will be sending out information about enrichment opportunities, including online resources and printed material resources such as instructional packets. Parents and guardians are encouraged to look out for information from their child’s school and teachers. Tips and tools gathered by HIDOE’s Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design are also available for the public at bit.ly/HIDOEVirtualLearningParentResource.
Special education services
Schools will ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the same enrichment opportunities as their peers. Schools are working toward providing the most appropriate modifications and accommodations under the circumstances. Related services that can be provided via telepractice will be considered on a case-by-case basis for students who have qualified for these services. When school resumes in its traditional manner, Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Section 504 teams will meet to determine if there was a loss of skills as a result of the extended school closure, and the need for compensatory education.
Grab-and-go meal school sites
Nine additional sites will begin breakfast and lunch service Wednesday, March 25. Parents and caregivers who come to pick up a meal must be accompanied by a child. Meals will not be served Thursday, March 26, which is Prince Kuhio Day. For the complete list of sites, click here.
By the end of this week, the Department will be sharing specific plans to ensure its 10,000 eligible high school graduates can earn diplomas. The Department will also provide next-level information based on the planning work accomplished by schools, complex areas and state offices for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
“We remain focused on and committed to our educational mission and we look forward to resuming instruction and a sense of normalcy as quickly as possible,” Kishimoto added.
HIDOE COVID-19 updates will continue to be posted on the Department’s website at hawaiipublicschools.org.
Link to PDF:
COVID-19 Daily Update: 3/24/2020
First COVID-19 Death Report Undergoing Confirmation
The Dept. of Health continues to investigate the death of an elderly adult on O‘ahu. Irregularities in testing conducted by the State Laboratories Division prompted DOH leadership to order retesting. The State lab initially received an indeterminate test from a private testing lab and late yesterday the state lab reported the test as positive for COVID-19. Retesting is underway now and confirmatory results will be released, possibly this evening.
Statewide Stay-at-Home, Work-at-Home Order
To protect public health and safety during this pandemic Governor David Ige signed a supplementary proclamation Monday, ordering the entire state to stay at home and work from home starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 25 through April 30. Essential workers, such as health care professionals and public health workers are exempt.
The state and county orders are implemented to reduce the risk of spread of the COVID-19 virus and to protect the ability of public and private healthcare providers to handle the influx of new patients and to safeguard public health and safety. Many additional closures and restrictions are in place statewide and the Dept. of Health encourages all citizens to stay up-to-date and to practice social distancing protocols at all times.
Reminder of Governor’s Order for Self-Quarantine of All Travelers to Hawai‘i
Effective, Thursday, March 26, 2020, Governor David Ige has ordered that all persons entering the State of Hawai‘i to self-quarantine for 14 days or for the duration of their stay in Hawai‘i, whichever is shorter. Upon arrival, residents are required to quarantine in a designated location in their residence. Visitors will quarantine in their hotel room, rented lodging or in a room if staying at a residence. Quarantined individuals may only leave their designated location for medical emergencies or to seek medical care. Failure to comply with all rules and protocols related to quarantines is punishable by fines of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.
FDA Guidance on Food Safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided guidance on food safety for the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently there is no evidence that the virus has spread from food or food packaging. The FDA is also aggressively monitoring the market for fraudulent COVID-19 testing kits. Complete information on food safety and approved testing can be found at: http://www.afdo.org
The DOH reminds people to be judicious when shopping for food and essential goods so that kūpuna and others in need are able to purchase necessary items.
Who should be tested?
Individuals who are not experiencing systems do not need to be tested. DOH strongly urges public health and healthcare professionals to prioritize testing among three specific groups:
Health care workers and first responders with COVID-19 symptoms.
Older Americans who have symptoms of COVID-19, especially those living in congregate settings.
Individuals who may have other illnesses that would be treated differently if they were infected with COVID-19 and therefore physician judgment is especially important for this population
Other people with mild illness should help protect our most vulnerable and conserve our precious supplies by practicing social distancing measures, monitoring their illness, and calling their healthcare provider if their symptoms worsen or persist.
Guidance and guidelines for public health professionals and healthcare workers: www.cdc.gov/covid19
Social Distancing
COVID-19 recommendations are changing the rules on how much physical distance individuals should keep from each other. Cancelling events that do not allow attendees to be at least six feet apart—the equivalent of two arms-length—and avoiding unnecessary physical meeting with others are proven strategies to mitigate the spread of the virus. The effectiveness of these initiatives largely depends on the cooperation and compliance from the public. The recommendations are intended to protect the most vulnerable populations: kupuna and those who are medically fragile.
14 New Positive Cases on O’ahu and Maui
As of March 24, 2020, there is a total of 90 presumptive or positive COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘I, including one death, reported last night. 70 of these cases involve Hawai‘i residents and the majority (57) are on O‘ahu. Travel or contact with a traveler is the risk factor in 57 cases, and only one case has no travel history. The cause of the virus in 32 cases is unknown. Please note, that as the number of cases rises daily it may take health professionals longer to investigate possible sources of infection for individual cases.
Please note the following: There was one duplicate in a previous case list, so total case count dropped by one. One case was misattributed to Hawai‘i Island when it should have been attributed to Kaua‘i.
Definition of Community Spread
Community spread is defined as cases that cannot be traced back to a traveler and have absolutely no travel related or involved connection with travel. We have been informed that there are residents of Hawai‘i who believe all COVID-19 positive cases originate from visitors to the state. Unfortunately, there is stigma developing against visitors in Hawai‘i. We’re asking the media to help people understand that of the 90 positive test results to date, 57 of them are the result of traveling residents. The majority of cases are residents who returned home after traveling. At this time, there may be residents returning home from a school that has closed or from other essential travel. It is important for all travelers to monitor their health for 14 days after traveling and to avoid exposing others and stay at home.
Thank you for your assistance in reducing and preventing stigma and increasing understanding during this rapidly changing situation.
Lab Testing
More than 3,862 tests performed for people in Hawai‘i by private clinical labs to date.
The DOH State Laboratories Division has tested 322 Persons Under Investigation (PUI) and 263 sentinel surveillance samples. The 263 sentinel surveillance tests have all been negative. These are representative samples taken from every county from people with flu-like symptoms who tested negative for influenza.
Private laboratories are receiving steadily increasing numbers of test samples and this has created some delays in the processing of test results. Test results from private laboratories are currently taking approximately a week or more to complete and health care providers and their patients should expect results may take longer as demand continues to increase.
2-1-1 Call Center for Information on COVID-19
The Aloha United Way call center is open daily between 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. For information or questions about COVID-19:
Call 2-1-1 from any location in the state
Text 877-275-6569
Email info211@auw.org
Visit health.hawaii.gov/covid19 or coronavirus.gov
Link:
https://health.hawaii.gov/news/files/2020/03/COVID-19-Daily-Update-March-24-2020a.pdf
