News Releases from Department of Health

Department of Health: Clarification on McDonald’s COVID-19 Cluster Investigation A cluster of cases involving 7 employees at two McDonald’s locations, Kona Commons and the Walmart in Kailua Kona, have recently been identified. The Dept. of Health wants to remind everyone that those numbers may change as the investigation into the primary case and their contacts ...
Read More Addendum: Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 14, 2020

Governors Office: Thousands of Small Businesses Get SBA Help During his daily news briefing today, Governor David Ige announced that 8,426 small businesses have had Small Business Administration Loans approved under the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program. The total amount approved for Hawai‘i businesses so far totals $1,626,051,108. The governor again encouraged all residents of Hawai‘i to ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 14, 2020

Department of Health: Hawai‘i COVID-19 Cases Exceed 500 – Only Five in Latest Report The number of positive COVID-19 cases across the state now stands at 504. However, the latest report shows one of the lowest numbers of new infections in several weeks, at five (5) adults. DOH cautions not to read too much into ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 13, 2020

Department of Health: Thirteen New Cases of COVID-19 Reported All 13 of the new positive cases reported today are adult Hawai‘i residents bringing the total number of cases since Feb. 28, 2020 to 499 statewide. Overall travel-related cases have decreased markedly, with continued slight increases in community-associated cases. The 9th death was reported yesterday as ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 12, 2020

Department of Health: Ninth COVID-19 Death Reported A woman, over 65-years-old is the ninth death from COVID-19. She had underlying medical conditions and had tested positive for the virus when she was hospitalized on O‘ahu. The Dept. of Health extends its heartfelt condolences to the friends and family or our latest neighbor to pass from ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 11, 2020

Governor’s Office: Two Additional Deaths Reported  In response to the news today about two additional fatalities, Gov. David Ige said, “This is another sad day for Hawaiʻi. On behalf of our entire community, I would like to express my condolences to the families and friends of two more of our neighbors who lost their lives ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 10, 2020

Department of Health: DOH Reports Seven (7) New Cases The rate of positive COVID-19 cases remains steady at 2.7% of tests. Seven (7) new cases are being reported, all in adults, for a total number since Feb. 28 of 442 cases. Honolulu saw six (6) additional cases; Hawai‘i Island has two (2) new cases; and ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 9, 2020

Governor’s Office: Second COVID-19 Death on Maui Under Investigation Investigators from the State Health Dept. are in the process of gathering details about the second Maui resident to pass away from COVID-19. This is an adult male over 65-years-old and is another stark reminder of the human toll this disease is exacting here in Hawai‘i. ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 8, 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 ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 7, 2020

Governor’s Office: Governor Ige Extends Condolences to Family & Friends of Two More Who Died Gov. David Ige, today, extended his deepest condolences to the familes and friends of the latest Hawai‘i residents who passed away due to COVID-19. The governor said it is with a heavy heart that one of our O‘ahu neighbors passed ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 6, 2020

HONOLULU – Today, the Behavioral Health and Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group (BHHSURG) 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, ...
Read More New Website for Mental Health and Homeless Service Providers

HONOLULU – Across the state, customers and staff at pharmacies, supermarkets, and take-out food establishments are wearing cloth masks and using physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Many local and national chain stores have established controls on how many customers can enter a store at one time. The Joint Information Center has produced ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health reminds everyone that face masks are no substitute of physical distancing

Department of Health: Total Number of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Cases Rises to 371 Twenty (20) new cases of COVID-19 are all adults. Maui’s mayor announced a second case on Moloka‘i Saturday night and both of those cases are reflected in the Maui County numbers below. Eleven (11) of the new reported cases are travel-associated, two (2) ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 5, 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. ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 4, 2020

HONOLULU – Based on national guidance released today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and recommendations from county mayors and state legislators, Gov. Ige and the Hawai‘i Department of Health and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency are formulating a statewide policy on the voluntary use of facemasks. Although there is no current ...
Read More Governor Ige and Hawai‘i Department of Health provide additional guidance on face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19

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 ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 3, 2020

HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health is reporting the death of a third individual with COVID-19. The elderly O‘ahu resident had been hospitalized in critical condition on life support for several weeks after returning from travel to Washington state. “We offer our sincere condolence to his family and friends at this difficult time,” said ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health announces 3rd COVID-19 death

Office of the Governor: Governor Ige’s Message on Second COVID-19 Death Today, our community received the tragic news of the passing of a second Hawai‘i resident from the COVID-19 virus. Dawn and I express our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends. As we come together with expressions of sympathy and support – we must ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 2, 2020

Office of the Governor:                Small Business Administration Details Paycheck Protection Program Jane Sawyer, the District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined Gov. Ige today during his daily media teleconference to provide more details on the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program. It’s part of the “The Coronavirus ...
Read More Hawaii COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 1, 2020

HONOLULU – During routine sampling of drinking water systems across the state, low levels of one organic and one inorganic chemical were detected in water samples collected at the St. Stephen’s Diocesan Center water system on O‘ahu. The St. Stephen’s Diocesan Center water system is a small non-residential system which serves approximately 45 persons near ...
Read More Water remains safe to drink after low levels of contaminants are detected in one O‘ahu water well