It Begins: 3 employees at Oahu senior living facilities test positive for COVID-19—One Location Secret

HNN June 5, 2020: … In a concerning development Friday, officials said that three employees at two long-term care facilities for seniors on Oahu have tested positive for COVID-19.

Two employees work at Kalakaua Gardens, an assisted living and skilled nursing facility.

Officials did not say where the third employee works.

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii said both of the facilities are cooperating with the state Health Department and the three employees “did not directly care for residents.”

Kalakaua Gardens, at 1723 Kalakaua Ave, said all of its employees and residents would be offered free COVID-19 tests….

“During the pandemic, Hawaii’s long term care facilities have been successful in keeping COVID-19 away from their residents."

He noted that skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Hawaii care for more than 5,000 residents.

So far, only one Hawaii senior living facility resident has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and that patient was exposed at Maui Memorial Medical Center not the senior living facility….

read … 3 employees at Oahu senior living facilities test positive for COVID-19

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Hawai‘i COVID-19 Cases

News Release from Hawaii DoH, June 5, 2020

On 6/5/2020, the Hawai‘i Department of Health reported six new positive cases on O‘ahu and three cases were added after resolving lab data discrepancies for a cumulative total of 664 cases statewide (reported since 2/28/2020).

A total of 53,257 individuals have been tested in the state.  (921 new tests)

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:664 (9 newly reported)*

Hawai’i County:81

Honolulu County:431

Kaua’i County:21

Maui County:120†

Pending:0

Residents diagnosed outside of Hawai‘i:11

Required Hospitalization:83‡ (no new hospitalizations)

Hawaii deaths:17 (no new deaths)

Released from Isolation:614§* (three released today)

Cumulative totals as of 12:00pm, June 5, 2020

*AS A RESULT OF CORRECTING DISCREPANCIES IN LABORATORY REPORTING, 4 OLDER CASES WERE ADDED (2 ON HONOLULU, 1 ON MAUI, AND 1 ON KAUAI), AND 1 CASE WAS REMOVED (HONOLULU).

†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. 

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AWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER

DAILY NEWS DIGEST

June 5, 2020

Department of Health:

DOH Reminds Everyone to Continue Prevention as Case Count Rises

Today, there are six (6) new cases of  coronavirus  among O‘ahu residents and three (3) older cases, being reported.The last time Hawai‘i saw six new cases of coronavirus was on April 22. Health officials remind everyone to continue maintaining all recommended infection prevention measures:

• Social distancing
• Frequent hand Washing
• Wearing of masks
• Staying home when sick

Today’s count of nine (9) additional cases, includes the three (3) older cases, added as a result of data cleaning with one each on O‘ahu, Maui, and Kaua‘i.

Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, June 5, 2020

** One case removed due to updated testing information

* Includes cases that meet isolation release criteria. 

Laboratory* Testing Data

There were 921 additional COVID-19 tests reported via electronic laboratory reporting.

*Electronic Laboratory Reporting  **14 test results were inconclusive

Hawaiicovid19.com 

For more tables visit: https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:

1,621 Passengers Arrive on Thursday

Yesterday marked ten weeks since the state’s mandatory 14-day self-quarantine started for all passengers arriving in Hawai‘i from out-of-state. Yesterday, a total of 1,621 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 546 visitors and 433 returning residents. There was a total of 19 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 Thursday, June 4, 2020

https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4707/060520-passenger-count-press-release.pdf

Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency:

FEMA Awards $3.7 Million to Hawai‘i for COVID-19 Response

FEMA has awarded nearly $3.7 million to the HI-EMA for expenses incurred from the COVID-19 response. The funding was made available under a presidential disaster declared on April 1, 2020. This expedited award reimburses the 75-percent federal cost share associated with performing emergency protective measures utilizing force account and contract services to protect public health and safety and the purchasing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), medical supplies, and the lease of supply storage space. These costs include the labor and contracts to purchase and distribute PPE and supplies, as well as the movement of these supplies and personnel across multiple Hawaii counties medical facilities. HI-EMA Administrator Luke Meyers said, “This funding goes a long way in helping to prepare our State’s frontline workers and strengthen our surge capacity should the need arise for this unprecedented pandemic incident. The reimbursement monies can now go to other essential programs to mitigate against a rise in cases should our numbers go up as we slowly open our islands on this current road to economic recovery.”

https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/news-release-fema-awards-3-7-million-to-hawaii-for-covid-19-response/

Department of Public Safety:

PSD Population Report 

From March 2 to June 5 there has been a 699-person decrease in Hawai‘i jails. The jail reductions are due to the up-front diversion efforts made by county police departments, PSD’s Intake Services Center Division and the State Judiciary. Additional recent reductions are due to the collaborative efforts of the state public defender’s office, county prosecutors, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court and the Supreme Court appointed Special Master, Judge Dan Foley. There’s also been a 91-person reduction in Hawai‘i prisons. For latest information: 

http://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/

Department of the Attorney General:

Encouragement to Get Covid-19 Information From Official Sources

Law enforcement agencies across the state are reminding Hawai‘i residents to only rely on official sources of information for the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues involving government agencies and their responses. Some social media sites have recently posted false information suggesting that out-of-state individuals are coming to Hawai‘i to cause trouble. Attorney General Clare Connors, the state’s chief law enforcement official said, “While social media can be helpful in distributing information broadly, everyone knows there are countless examples of where social media platforms have spread misinformation through false postings. We encourage readers and viewers to be discerning, to rely only on official sources of information and to avoid getting caught up in the dissemination of rumors and/or gossip online.

https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom/latest-news/hawaii-covid-19-joint-information-center-news-release-encouragement-to-get-information-from-official-sources-june-5-2020/

Department of Land and Natural Resources:

Wiki Permits Resumes Services for Beach Weddings & Vow Renewals

Effective immediately Wiki Permits, the online permitting system for limited commercial activities on State beaches, such as weddings and vow renewals, is resuming service subject to the following COVID-19 “Act With Care” restrictions:

• No group shall exceed 10 persons.
• Members of each group who are not part of the same household shall comply with social distancing requirements, provided that a caregiver may accompany a dependent.
• The beach or sand area may only be used one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
• All other restrictions found within the Governor’s emergency proclamations on COVID-19 and applicable county Mayor’s orders shall be followed, such as any applicable quarantine restrictions.
• All standard terms and conditions of Wiki Permits shall also be complied with, including restrictions on placement of accessories, structures, devices, etc. on the beach, with limited exception (see standard permit condition no. 14).

With the exception of Wiki Permits events (weddings, vow renewals, etc.), State beaches remain closed to all other commercial activity. 

For more information: https://dlnr.ehawaii.gov/permits/welcome.html