News Releases from Department of Health

Office of the Governor: Every Penny in CARES Act Funding to be Spent 100% of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding Hawai‘i received from the federal government will be spent. That was one of the announcements from Governor David Ige at a news briefing this afternoon. In April, the State of ...
Read More

Department of Health: Two Additional Deaths and 87 New COVID-19 Cases Today Two (2) more O‘ahu residents have passed away due to coronavirus. One is a man, in the 70 to 79-year-old age group, who had underlying conditions and had been in the hospital. The other death is a woman, in the 50 to 59-year-old ...
Read More

Department of Health: 90 New COVID-19 Cases Today – All on O‘ahu All 90 new cases of coronavirus reported by DOH today are on the island of O‘ahu. It’s been several months since case counts were zero for all Neighbor Islands. No additional deaths were reported. Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, Sept. 28, ...
Read More

Department of Health: Three Deaths and 112 New Cases Reported Today Three (3) O‘ahu residents increase Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 death count to 127 people. All three people had underlying health conditions, and all had been in the hospital. One was a man in the 60-69-year-old age group. Two women also passed away; one in the 50-59-year-old ...
Read More

HONOLULU — Hawai‘i State Hospital in Kaneohe has reported that one patient and three staff members within the hospital’s admissions unit have tested positive for COVID-19. After the first staff member tested positive last week, the hospital immediately activated its standard protocol to test all of its staff and patients within the hospital’s admissions unit. ...
Read More

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) has issued a formal notice to proceed to retail to Hawaiian Ethos LLC on the island of Hawai‘i and Manoa Botanicals LLC, dba Noa Botanicals on O‘ahu, after both passed their final onsite inspections for their third retail facilities. Hawaiian Ethos’ new retail location in Hilo ...
Read More

Governor’s Office: COVID-19 Emergency Period Extended & Pre-Travel Testing Program Authorized Late yesterday, Gov. David Ige signed a 13th supplementary emergency proclamation that extends the COVID-19 emergency period through Oct. 31. The emergency proclamation leaves in place the 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers. However, beginning Oct. 15, a pre-travel testing option will allow ...
Read More

HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health is administering $14 million to provide more than 200 additional nurses and other specialists for hospitals statewide over the next four months. Some of the out-of-state personnel will begin arriving this weekend. Gov. Ige approved the award of funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund earlier this week. The ...
Read More

Department of Health: Two Deaths and 168 New Cases Reported Today Two (2) O‘ahu residents increase Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 death count to 122 people. A man, 80-years-old or older, passed away while hospitalized. Both he and a woman in the 70 to 79-year-old age group had underlying health conditions. She passed away at home. DOH is ...
Read More

Governor’s Office: Governor Ige Gives Verbal Approval to City & County of Honolulu Recovery Framework Governor Ige is expected to sign off on the latest COVID-19 emergency order from the City & County of Honolulu, aimed at reducing virus spread and to put O‘ahu on the path to economic recovery. The new order establishes criteria ...
Read More

Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center: Two of Three Reports Released On COVID-19 Cluster & Deaths at State Veterans Home Two reports detailing in-depth assessments of conditions and protocols at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home (YOSVH) in Hilo, have been developed. The assessments were conducted separately by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and ...
Read More

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is recognizing drowning prevention efforts across our islands as the state observes Hawai‘i Beach Safety Week on Sept. 20-26. This week is dedicated to Hawai‘i Drowning and Aquatic Injury Prevention Advisory Committee member and long-time water safety advocate Ray Sanborn, who passed away unexpectedly last week. Sanborn ...
Read More

Joint Information Center: COVID-19 Quarantine Exemption Requests Go Digital Beginning Saturday In an effort to make the quarantine exemption process easier and more efficient, the State Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS), developed a new web-based form which goes live on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. Previously those seeking exemptions, such as critical medical or infrastructure ...
Read More

HONOLULU – Preventing the spread of COVID-19 to avoid hospital admissions and ensuring there are sufficient number of beds to care for those affected by the pandemic has been an important priority. The Hawai‘i Department of Health is encouraging everyone, especially vulnerable seniors, to take other precautions to stay healthy and avoid overwhelming the healthcare system.  ...
Read More

Governor’s Office: Focus on Health of Students, Teachers, & Staff At a morning news briefing, Gov. David Ige acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially tough for families with school-aged children. He said reopening Hawai‘i schools touches on three priorities he announced yesterday: Protecting the health of our community Reviving our economy Strengthening our ...
Read More

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health issued a comprehensive, 28-page guidance document for all schools today to ensure the education of Hawaiʻi’s youth during the pandemic continues with minimal disruption and risk to students, teachers and staff. The guidance includes metrics school leaders will be able to use when determining how best to respond to ...
Read More

Governor’s Office: Pre-Travel Testing Option to Begin on Oct. 15, 2020 At an afternoon news briefing, Gov. David Ige announced plans for a Hawai‘i pre-travel testing program that gives travelers the option of possibly avoiding a 14-day-long quarantine upon arrival to the state. This is viewed as one of the key measures for revitalizing Hawai‘i’s ...
Read More

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health issued a red placard to Vietnamese Cuisine Restaurant in Kihei, Maui, because its kitchen was infested with roaches among many other food safety violations and health hazards. The restaurant is currently closed and has been ordered to correct the violations by Sept. 17, when the health department will ...
Read More

Lieutenant Governor’s Office: COVID-19 Update As of today, Lt. Gov. Josh Green and two deputy sheriffs remain the only three (3) positive COVID-19 cases in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. All eleven (11) other employees have tested negative. Additionally, Lt. Gov. Green’s wife and two children have tested negative. Everyone will remain in quarantine until cleared ...
Read More

HONOLULU —  While most of the public’s attention is currently focused on the pandemic, the State Laboratories Division of the Hawai‘i Department of Health is preparing for another potential threat: microbial contamination of food products. Thanks to a $370,000 grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enhance Hawaii’s Food Emergency Response Network ...
Read More