Hawai‘i COVID-19 Cases

News Release from Hawaii DoH, June 24, 2020

On 6/24/2020, the Hawai‘i Department of Health reported 16 new positive cases.

One case is on Hawai‘i Island, 13 cases are on O‘ahu and 2 cases are residents who are out of the state for a cumulative total of 835 cases statewide (reported since 2/28/2020). 

A total of 71,935 individuals have been tested in the state. (1,396 new cases)

Detailed information and data about COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i is available at:

Latest Cases in Hawai'i | Current Situation in Hawai'i  | COVID-19 Data Dashboard

LATEST CASES IN HAWAI‘I

MORE DETAILS

Total cases:835 (16 newly reported)

Active Cases: 119 (Calculation by editor: 835-686-17-1-12=119)

(Editor's Note: DoH has refused our request for a tally of current active cases instead referring readers to >>> LINK.) 

Hawai’i County:86

Honolulu County:584

Kaua’i County:29

Maui County:122†

Pending:0

Residents diagnosed outside of Hawai‘i:14

Required Hospitalization:105‡* (one new hospitalization)

(Editor's Note: Without explanation, DoH has refused our request for a count of how many patients are currently hospitalized.)

Star-Adv June 25, 2020: "Currently, he said, the state has only 23 hospitalized cases, including six who are in intensive care units, with only three on ventilators"

Hawaii deaths:17 (no new deaths)

Released from Isolation:686§ (13 released)

Cumulative totals as of 12:00pm, June 24, 2020

*The increase of 3 required hospitalizations for Maui reported on 6/23 was the result of updated information on previously reported cases, and were not new hospitalizations.

†One case is a Lanai resident whose exposure is on Maui Island and who will be remaining on Maui Island for the interim.

‡Includes Hawaii residents hospitalized out of state.

§Includes cases that meet isolation release criteria (Isolation should be maintained until at least 3 days (72 hours) after resolution of fever and myalgia without the use of antipyretics OR at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset, whichever is longer). (The cases that have died and one case that has left the jurisdiction have been removed from these counts).

Positive cases include presumptive and confirmed cases, and Hawaii residents and non-residents; data are preliminary and subject to change. Note that CDC provides case counts according to states of residence.

HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER

DAILY NEWS DIGEST

June 24, 2020

Governor’s Office:

Pre-Travel Testing Option for Trans-Pacific Travel Beginning August 1

Gov. David Ige announced today all travelers arriving in Hawai‘i  from out-of-state will be required to get a valid COVID-19 test prior to their arrival, and to show proof of a negative test result, to avoid the 14-day quarantine. The pre-travel testing program begins Aug. 1.

Out-of-state travelers arriving in Hawai‘i must get a PCR test prior to arrival from any testing location approved by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health. Evidence of a negative test result must be provided upon arrival in Hawai‘i. Without this, passengers arriving from out-of-state will be subject to the 14-day quarantine. No testing will be provided upon arrival at the airport.

DOH is still in the process of developing this program but anticipates requiring an FDA-approved PCR test from a CLIA certified laboratory. Travelers will be required to provide printed or emailed pre-test certification as evidence of a negative test result. Travelers will be responsible for the cost of the pre-travel test. 

Temperature checks will continue at airports across the state. Anyone with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees or who is experiencing other symptoms will be required to undergo a secondary screening at the airport with trained healthcare staff. In addition, travelers will be required to fill out the State Travel and Health form 

Gov. Ige said, “Now is the time to work together to ensure that our residents and local businesses can safely reopen to incoming travelers. We expect more cases as travel reopens and the State is confident in its ability to monitor and respond to new cases. This is a marathon, not a sprint.” Numerous community leaders were instrumental in helping to develop the plan along with county mayor’s and legislative leadership.

State Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson commented, “Lifting the 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travel will require an intensive airport screening process, increased contact tracing and monitoring of cases, and careful tracking of the state’s progress in controlling and containing the coronavirus. This is a huge undertaking by the state and a tremendous commitment from public health as we embark on these new and untested initiatives and face many unknowns. It is definitely a new normal and we have much to learn as we lift restrictions and rebuild our economy while safeguarding the health of our people.”

Honolulu’s Request for Singers, Musicians to Perform at Restaurants, Bars

Gov. David Ige has approved Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s proposal to allow singing and/or playing of wind instruments at indoor and outdoor restaurants/bars, with some restrictions.

• Performers who sing or play wind instruments must keep a distance of at least 10 feet from other people.
• Performers who sing or play wind instruments need not wear face coverings, but a physical barrier is required between performers and patrons/staff for indoor restaurants/bars.
• The 10-foot distance requirement does not apply to members of the same performing group.

Mayor Caldwell’s proposal is included in the second amendment to the City and County of Honolulu’s Emergency Order No. 2020-16, posted online at www.honolulu.gov                

Lieutenant Governor’s Office:

LG Green Recognizes Partners and People for Hawai‘i’s Efforts

Lieutenant Governor Josh Green added, “Asking passengers to get a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel is one more tool in our layered screening process that will help keep Hawai‘i safe. As we navigate this pandemic, anyway we can minimize risk while bringing some normalcy to our daily lives is the right path forward. I appreciate the incredible work of the partners involved in this process, and special thanks to the people of Hawai‘i who have shown their aloha, patience and resilience throughout this challenging time. We have more than five weeks before August 1 to finalize details and make this the best program in America, and we are up for the task.” Both Gov. Ige and Lt. Gov. Green reminded folks to keep our guard up as we head toward August 1 and beyond. They encouraged continued safe practices: wearing masks, physical distancing and frequent hand washing.

Department of Health:

Sixteen Additional COVID-19 Cases Reported

Thirteen (13) O‘ahu residents, one (1) Hawai‘i Island resident, and two (2) residents diagnosed out-of-state are the latest cases of coronavirus reported by DOH. Six of the cases on O‘ahu are associated with previously confirmed cases. The two cases diagnosed out of state were in Arizona and Nevada. All but one of today’s cases are adults. For context, the median number of cases each day for the week of June 14–20, 2020 is eight (8). At the peak of the current pandemic wave, March 15–21, 2020, the median number of cases per day was 27.

Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, June 24, 2020

* Includes cases that meet isolation release criteria.  

Laboratory* Testing Data

There were 1,396 additional COVID-19 tests reported via electronic laboratory reporting.

*Electronic Laboratory Reporting  **14 test results were inconclusive

Hawaiicovid19.com

For more tables, charts and visualizations visit the DOH Disease Outbreak Control Division:https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii

State Health Director Recognizes Wide Cooperation Statewide

DOH Director Dr. Bruce Anderson said at today’s news briefing, “We’ve been able to keep our case numbers at a manageable level unlike many other locations. I am proud to be part of a community that respects and takes care of one another. Unlike many parts of the nation where the disease is raging, I see most people wearing masks at grocery stores and take-out food establishments and standing 6 ft. apart as they wait their turn. Businesses are renovating work areas to provide for physical distancing, installing plexiglass barriers, staggering work hours and taking other actions to work safely. Everyone in the state has worked hard to keep our case numbers down, and we’ve seen great results as a result of your kokua.”

He went on to say that the 14-day traveler quarantine gave Hawai‘i time to build infrastructure, obtain PPE and other necessary resources and to prepare to effectively and efficiently handle more cases. DOH now has nearly 200 cross-trained employees throughout the state who may act as contact tracers in the event of a surge in cases. In addition, the University of Hawai‘i is training about 300 applicants who will be available to assist with contact tracing by the end of July.

Anderson said many recently reported cases were uncovered through timely and intensive investigations by contact tracing staff. Clusters of cases have been contained quickly through isolation and quarantine measures. Outreach activities in at-risk communities and care home facilities throughout the state have also helped proactively identify cases and increase prevention measures. 

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:

Hotel Performance Report for May

Hotels across the state continued to report substantially lower revenue per available room (RevPAR), average daily rate (ADR), and occupancy last month compared to May 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, statewide RevPAR in May 2020 decreased to $18 (-91.1%), ADR fell to $127 (-50.4%), and occupancy declined to 14.2 percent (-64.9 percentage points).

https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4758/hawaii-hotel-performance-05-2020-1.pdf

1,512 Passengers Arrive on Tuesday

Yesterday, a total of 1,655 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 409 visitors and 454 returning residents. There was a total of 17 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 TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4759/062420-passenger-count-press-release.pdf