KHON: Actively-sick COVID-19 growth rate dips negative for first time in Hawaii

Hawai‘i COVID-19 Cases
Cumulative totals as of 12:00 noon on April 7, 2020

From Hawaii DoH, April 7, 2020

*Unknown cases are pending investigation. As new information becomes available, unknown cases may be added to County of Diagnosis totals.  

  *   *   *   *   *

HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST

News Release April 7, 2020

Governor’s Office:

Honolulu Repurposes ‘Ohana Zone Funds for Additional Help for People Experiencing Homelessness

Utilizing State ‘Ohana Zone funds, the City and County of Honolulu today announced the rapid deployment of its HONU (Homeless Outreach and Navigation for the Unsheltered) program, which provides short-term shelter and triage services to people experiencing homelessness. Due to the impacts of COVID-19 both the State and the City have recognized the need for more immediate shelter options that implement physical distancing measures. HONU resources are being directed to the City’s new Provisional Outdoor Screening and Triage (POST) facility at Ke‘ehi Lagoon. POST will provide meals, hygiene and security. The Honolulu Police Dept. offered the concept of the POST facility which will serve as a resource for homeless individuals needing temporary shelter and access to hygiene and other basic needs. The city repurposed a portion of its $6 million ‘Ohana Zone contract with the State to meet the immediate crisis needs of the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic. Services provided by the POST facilitiy are consistent with the intent of ‘Ohana Zone funds to offer flexible and low-barrier services to people experiencing homelessness.

Lt. Governor’s Office:

Many people were tested on Moloka‘i today at a COVID-19 drive-through testing site thanks to the efforts of Lt. Governor Josh Green, Dr. Scott Miscovich and the County of Maui. The event followed the diagnosis of two positive cases of the virus on the island over the past week. 500 tests kits were provided for the drive-through testing. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said, “I want to deeply thank Lt. Gov. Green and Dr. Miscovich for stepping up to provide these test kits. We appreciate their quick response to the needs of our Moloka‘i residents as we face this pandemic together.”  (LINK)

Department of Health:

Reported Hawai‘i COVID-19 Cases Exceeds 400

With the addition of 23 positive cases, Hawai‘i now has a total of 410 reported cases of COVID-19 as of February 28, 2020. Of today’s cases, all are adults. DOH reports a decrease of traveler-associated cases, but investigators are looking at community-associated cases, primarily on O‘ahu and Maui. Three (3) of the most recent cases are travel-related, none are community-related and 20 are unknown. This is why the continued practice of physical distancing is so critical in flattening the curve of infection in the state. No new deaths have been reported and the total stands at five (5); two women and three men.

LABORATORY TESTING DATA

14,981 -- Total Number of Individuals Tested by Clinical and State Laboratories

408 -- Positive

14,560 -- Negative

18 test results were inconclusive

HAWAI‘I COVID-19 COUNTS AS OF 12 NOON, APRIL 7, 2020

++Includes two positive cases on Molokai. 

*“Refers to positive cases that have an unknown county of diagnosis at the time of this report. As more information becomes available for these cases, they are assigned to the proper County of Diagnosis. A negative number indicates the number of previously unknown cases that have now been assigned to a county.

New Website for Mental Health and Homeless Service Providers

The Behavioral Health and Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group (BHHSURG) has launched a website to ensure the continuity of coverage of essential health and homelessness services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The website features resources for providers who work with mental health and homeless populations, including provider Q&A webinars, weekly newsletters, updates from partners, and guidance on using telehealth and personal protective equipment. The site also contains information for clients and consumers, such as guidance on everyday prevention and how to access services. The goal is to enable providers and the people they serve to find answers to common questions and to provide them with updates to behavioral health homelessness and other social services during this challenging crisis.

To view the website or to subscribe to the BHHSURG newsletter, visit bhhsurg.hawaii.gov.

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:

Fewer Flights, Fewer Arrivals at State Airports

On Monday, 583 people arrived in Hawai‘i, slightly fewer than the day before. This includes 133 visitors and 182 residents. Mandatory 14-day, self-quarantine is required for all passengers arriving from out of state and also covers interisland travelers. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday. Interisland travel table is below.  (LINK)

HAWAII PASSENGER ARRIVALS BY AIR FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE, APRIL 6, 2020

Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism:

Interisland Air Travel Stats

Latest numbers from DBEDT for arrivals April 4, 2020.  (LINK)

Department of Defense:

National Guard Helps Kaua‘i Police at Checkpoints

Today, members of the Hawai‘i National Guard (HING) assisted officers from the Kaua‘i Police Dept. (KPD) at two monitoring/compliance checkpoints. The operation was to help check to see if people are abiding by both state and county emergency orders in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The collaboration is under the unified command of the COVID-19 incident management team of the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency. People who have essential work or activities are encouraged to consider additional travel time in anticipation of lengthy traffic delays as more routine checkpoints are planned. HING soldiers are not armed and all enforcement actions will be taken by KPD officers. A recent checkpoint on Kaumauali‘i Highway near Halfway Bridge saw nearly 4,000 vehicles pass through, with the majority of drivers saying their travel was essential. To review essential travel exemptions: http://kauai.gov/COVID-19

Hawai‘i State Senate:

Special Senate Committee on COVID-19 Meets Wednesday

The special committee will convene on Wednesday, April 8, to assess and advise the Senate regarding the State of Hawai‘i's COVID-19 plans and procedures.

1. Confirm the development of the state departmental plans and procedures;
2. Review and assess current state departmental plans and procedures;
3. Review and assess whether state departmental plans and procedures are properly and timely implemented to safeguard public health and safety; and
4. To communicate and disseminate information obtained therefrom.

The special committee will be meeting with Lt. Governor Josh Green, DOH Director Dr. Bruce Anderson, HI-EMA Incident Commander Kenneth Hara, and Ryker Wada, DHRD Director.

Watch via: `Ōlelo Channel 49

YouTube livestream: https://youtu.be/whQc_hol4QA

Hawai‘i House of Representatives:

House Select Committee Receives Reports on Economic Recovery

The House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness reviewed economic and financial preparedness for Hawaiʻi following the pandemic, during its third informational briefing yesterday. The committee first heard a report from the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaiʻi (UHERO), on its new report: How to Control Hawaii’s Coronavirus Epidemic and Bring back the Economy: The Next Steps. The report spells out in detail how increased testing, comprehensive historical contact tracing, and isolation of exposed and infected individuals can lead to a rapid reduction in new infections and hospitalizations.

According to economist Carl Bonham, once this system has been put in place and has operated successfully for several weeks, we may begin to approach several measurable targets — number of new infections, number of new hospitalizations, and the capacity of the health care system to treat newly infected or exposed individuals. This would enable Governor Ige to gradually relax stay-at-home orders and for individuals to gradually relax some physical distancing restrictions.

Bonham said after the disease has been eliminated, the local economy will need to be reopened first, followed by the tourism economy. He said the worst-case scenario would be for the economy to reopen following the development of a vaccine in 12 to 18 months. A more optimistic forecast would be for the disease to be brought under control in about 45 days on the mainland.

Bonham said that when Hawaiʻi is perceived as a safe place to visit, it could become the premier destination for U.S. travelers over then next year, but that Hawaiʻi residents must be reassured that any tourists are coronavirus free.

Read the full news release on the hearing: LINK

Coverage:

• SA: Hawaii’s coronavirus cases climb by 23 to 410, with 16 new hospitalizations
• HNN: 23 new coronavirus cases reported, bringing statewide total to 410
• CB: Hawaii COVID-19 Infections Now Exceed 400  
• SA: Hawaii visitor arrivals rose for 4th time since Thursday