COVID-19 Daily Update: 4/10/2020
COVID-19 Daily Update: 4/9/2020
COVID-19 Daily Update: 4/8/2020
COVID-19 Daily Update: 4/7/2020
Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has created a Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to help restaurant employees that are experiencing hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Restaurant employees who are financially impacted by COVID-19 will be eligible to apply for a grant.
The grant is a one-time $500 dollar check to use towards housing, transportation, utilities, child-care, groceries, medical bills and/or student loans.
Grants will be made on a first-come-first-served basis. These grants will be subject to the availability of funds.
Please click on this link for more information.
COVID-19 Daily Update: 4/6/2020
COVID-19 Daily Update: 4/5/2020
COVID-19 Daily Update: 4/4/2020
HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST
April 4, 2020
Department of Health:
Fourth Death is East O‘ahu Adult
An East O‘ahu adult male, over 65-years-old, is the 4th person to die from COVID-19. The individual passed this morning, and based on preliminary information, this case was travel-related in that the person may have been exposed to someone who had traveled. He had been hospitalized. The Department of Health offers its deep condolences to the family and friends of the individual at this difficult and sad time.
Two minors are among the 32 new cases of COVID-19 being reported today. The majority of cases reported since tracking began on Feb. 28 are related to travel (12 today and 184 to date). Community spread is identified in one (1) new case today and in twenty (20) cases to-date. The risk factor in 19 cases today and 147 of the total cases remains unknown. There are now a total of 351 presumptive or confirmed cases in the state.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:
Airline Arrivals Up Slightly
Yesterday, 628 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 94 visitors and 239 residents. That’s up slightly from Thursday. The state’s 14-day mandatory self-quarantine started last week for all passengers arriving in Hawai‘i from out of state and was expanded to include interisland travelers. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday and does not include interisland travel.
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4417/040420-passenger-count-press-release.pdf
Department of Defense:
Brig. Gen Moses Kaoiwi Jr. Named Joint Task Force Commander
Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara has named Brig. Gen. Moses Kaoiwi Jr. as the Hawai‘i National Guard (HING) Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander. The JTF was last activated in 2018 during the Kīlauea lava flow and two tropical storms. Some of the support that the HING has been providing includes: assistance to the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency in planning and Emergency Operations Center activities & support to the State of Hawai‘i Joint Information Center to help communicate accurate health and safety information to people. Additionally, the HING is supporting the Hawai‘i Healthcare Emergency Management with warehouse support for receiving, conducting inventories, and repackaging medical equipment, supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the National Stockpile. Future support will include airport medical screening, law enforcement support, county emergency management support, healthcare support and more.
Department of the Attorney General:
AG Asks VA to Suspend Deadlines and Collections for Veterans
Attorney General Clare E. Connors has joined 22 other attorneys general to urge the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs to suspend benefits claims deadlines and debt collection activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the current situation, unemployment has skyrocketed, and veterans are losing their jobs, making it difficult for them to make debt payments. In a letter to the VA, the coalition of AGs argues that the department’s continued enforcement of deadlines and collections is putting veterans in financial danger and increasing their risk of losing essential VA benefits that they rely on for basic necessities like food and housing.
https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Letter-to-VA-re.-COVID-19.pdf
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
USACE Continues Evaluation of Facilities for Alternate Care
The Honolulu District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues initial planning and site assessments of facilities across the state for potential use as alternate care facilities (ACFs). Locations are chosen by the state and so far the USACE District and engineering assessment team has looked at sites on O‘ahu, Maui and Hawai‘i Island. This week they evaluated locations in Hilo and Kailua-Kona. Lt. Col. Kathryn Sanborn, Honolulu District Commander explained, “The analysis provides essential information to the state so they can make informed decisions about next steps for the health and wellness of the community. Lt. Col. Sanborn is expected to give an update on the conversion of facilities to ACFs at the governor’s daily news briefing on Monday.
https://www.usace.army.mil/Coronavirus/Alternate-Care-Sites/
Hawai‘i State House of Representatives:
Select Committee on COVID-19 Schedules Third Informational Briefing
The House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness has scheduled its third informational briefing on the economic impacts of the crisis on Hawai‘i on Monday, April 6, beginning at 10 a.m. To comply with physical distancing restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the briefing is not open to the public and no public testimony will be accepted. The hearing will be available statewide on community television: ‘Olelo, Nā Leo TV, Akakū and Hō‘ike Community Television. Livestreaming is available at:
https://olelo.org/ or http://olelo.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=31
For more information about the committee and to see related documents go to
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/specialcommittee.aspx?comm=cov&year=2020.
Dan Dennison
Lead Public Information Officer
Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center
Senior Communications Manager
Hawaii Dept. of Land & Natural Resources
Communications Office
(808) 587-0396
COVID-19 Daily Update: 4/3/2020
HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST
April 3, 2020
Office of the Governor:
Governor Ige’s Messages
Today, our community received more tragic news of the passing of a third Hawai‘i resident from the COVID-19 virus. I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this individual. Together, with all of Hawai‘i we share their loss and express our deepest sympathy and support.
This is the second Friday of my statewide state-at-home mandate. I know this is not getting easier. As I have said before, unfortunately, it is going to get worse before it gets better. With the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i increasing every day and the heartbreaking loss of three of our fellow residents, we all need to remain vigilant and do our part in stopping the spread of this virus and flatten the curve in our state.
Options to Prevent Overcrowding of Prisons
Governor Ige has asked the President to allow Hawai‘i to temporarily transfer state inmates to the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. The state has a long-standing contract to temporarily house inmates at the federal facility, but currently it is not accepting inmate transfers, even though it is not at full capacity.
Department of Health:
Third COVID-19 Death Travel-Related
The third death from COVID-19 was as an elderly adult O‘ahu resident who had been hospitalized in critical condition on life support for several weeks after traveling to Washington state. DOH reports 34 new COVID-19 cases today -- all are adults. The majority of cases are residents and two (2) are visitors. The number of Maui County cases includes the first positive case on Molokai. This case may be travel related and the individual has been transported to Oʻahu for care. There are now a total of 319 presumptive or confirmed cases in the state.
Additional Guidance on Masks
Based on recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and recommendations from county mayors and the Senate Special Committee on COVID-19, Gov. Ige and the Hawai‘i Dept. of Health and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency are formulating a statewide policy on the use of facemasks. Although there is no current data to demonstrate that homemade, cloth masks are effective for individual protection, it is prudent to urge everyone that wearing a fabric mask can help prevent the spread of infection to others, when the mask is worn by someone who already is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
Dr. Bruce Anderson, Director of the Dept. of Health said, “Many of us may be walking around unaware that we may be carrying coronavirus and when we cough, sneeze, and to a lesser degree, even speak, cloth masks may block infectious droplets from spreading. Protection is maximized when facemasks are used consistently and properly to avoid contaminating the hands or face of someone wearing one.” Anderson added that fabric masks should be replaced when they become moist and washed after each use.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:
Hotels for Heroes
Hawai‘i’s health care workers and first responders have been working tirelessly on the front lines to help people throughout the state during this COVID-19 pandemic, and may need to temporarily separate from their families to keep safe and rest. The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), and the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA) have developed the Hotels for Heroes program that will provide complimentary rooms for health care workers and first responders during this crisis. State tourism dollars will be used to offset the hotel room costs.
Airline Arrivals Continue to Drop
On Thursday 543 people arrived at state airports and of that number only 89 were visitors. Most of the passengers were returning residents. The state’s 14-day, mandatory self-quarantine order is for all out-of-state arrivals and interisland travelers, unless exempted.
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4415/040320-passenger-count-press-release.pdf
Department of Defense:
National Guard Standing up This Weekend
The Hawai‘i National Guard will soon begin assisting the Dept. of Transportation at airports across the state to conduct passenger medical screening and to help with administrative paperwork. The guard is made-up of soldiers and airmen who are all members of the community. This means, they understand first-hand the direct impacts of this pandemic and now can provide specific capabilities to help reduce some of these impacts. There are currently 130 active guardsmen. An additional 162 are being called up for active duty, bringing the total to 292.
Hawai‘i State House of Representatives:
State Capitol to Remained Closed Through April 30
In an effort to maintain consistency with the governor’s stay-at-home work orders, House Speaker Scott K. Saiki announced that the Hawai‘i State Capitol will remain closed, except for those performing necessary functions. Representatives will determine their own office hours and staffing needs based on their respective circumstances, with staff who remain at home, working from home.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1suqIyXllS_rcT1j9pMNHuwGcvCXFTMRUnLC2ulk0edU/edit?usp=sharing
Hawai‘i State Senate:
Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 Meets
The six State Senators of the Special Committee on COVID-19 continued meeting today to assess and advise the Senate regarding plans and procedures for state departments. The committee heard from Governor Ige’s Chief of Staff, the Dept. of Human Resources and Development, the Dept. of Agriculture and the Dept. of Education.
Media Contacts:
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center
Phone: 808.354-4263
Email: hawaiicovid19@gmail.com
