News Releases from Department of Health

Department of Health:  State Laboratory Guarding Against New COVID-19 Strains The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) continues to proactively test COVID-19 specimens looking for new strains that may be significantly more contagious or differ in other ways from earlier strains. Recent variants first discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa are spreading more easily ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 31, 2020

Fast moving variants heighten concern about social gatherings   HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) continues to proactively test COVID-19 specimens looking for new strains that may be significantly more contagious or differ in other ways from earlier strains. Recent variants first discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa are spreading more ...
Read More State laboratory guarding against new COVID-19 strains

Department of Health:  https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ 108 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Statewide 108 additional coronavirus cases were reported today. This report includes cases up until Monday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the State COVID-19 dashboard and on the DOH Disease Outbreak & Control website at noon each day at HawaiiCOVID19.com/dashboard.   Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 30, 2020

Department of Health:  https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ 76 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Statewide 76 additional coronavirus cases were reported today. This report includes cases up until Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the State COVID-19 dashboard and on the DOH Disease Outbreak & Control website at noon each day at HawaiiCOVID19.com/dashboard   Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 29, 2020

Department of Health:  https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ 46 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Statewide 46 additional coronavirus cases were reported today. This report includes cases up until Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the State COVID-19 dashboard and on the DOH Disease Outbreak & Control website at noon each day. HawaiiCOVID19.com/dashboard   Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 28, 2020

Department of Health:  https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ 129 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Statewide 129 additional coronavirus cases were reported today. This report includes cases up until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the State COVID-19 dashboard and on the DOH Disease Outbreak & Control website at noon each day. HawaiiCOVID19.com/dashboard   Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 24, 2020

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health continues to receive and distribute shipments of COVID-19 vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible. Here are the latest figures. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine: 11,700 doses ordered today. Delivery expected early next week.21,450 doses previously delivered. Moderna vaccine: 10,900 doses ordered today. Delivery expected early next week.12,000 doses previously delivered. 5,400 ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health: Vaccine Distribution Update

 Statewide survey is first step for efficient distribution HONOLULU – With the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to Hawai‘i’s major hospitals already underway, these healthcare facilities in partnership with the Hawai‘i Department of Health and Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i are now preparing to launch the next major step: distribution of the vaccine to doctors who ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health preparing for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to individual healthcare providers

Governor’s Office: Governor Announces Delay for State Furloughs Governor David Ige announced today that there will be a delay in state furloughs. In a letter sent to state employees this afternoon, the governor said the state had been waiting months to see if Congress would provide additional federal funds to help address the COVID-19 pandemic ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 23, 2020

Lt. Governor’s Office: Lt. Governor Receives COVID-19 Vaccine Lt. Governor Josh Green received his first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Queen’s Medical Center this morning. As an emergency room physician on Hawai‘i Island, Dr. Green is categorized as a healthcare worker in Phase 1a of the COVID-19 distribution plan in Hawai‘i. Dr. Green’s ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 22, 2020

       Health resources available online for vog and air quality HILO, HI – An eruption began on Dec. 20 from the Halema‘uma‘u crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano on Hawai‘i Island. At this time, all eruptive activity is within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, however, vog conditions and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) air levels may increase ...
Read More Kīlauea eruption creating potential air quality hazards

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Opioid Initiative (HOI) launched a new campaign this week for those struggling with opioid addiction and their family members. Advertisements will run on television, print, digital and social media outlets through the end of February. The public service announcements feature personal stories from Gabe B. and Alberta S., who share what ...
Read More Community Members share Stories of Resilience in New Opioid Prevention Campaign

Governor’s Office: Governor Ige’s Biennium Budget 2021-2023 Reflects Reductions At a news briefing today, Gov. David Ige unveiled his Fiscal Biennium Budget 2021-23, which includes reductions in both the operating and capital improvements program (CIP) budgets in the next two fiscal years. The state anticipates a $1.4 billion shortfall each year of this two-year period. ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 21, 2020

Department of Health:  https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ One Additional Death on O‘ahu and 130 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Statewide DOH is reporting one (1) additional COVID-19 death today. The latest case involves a woman between the ages of 60-69 years old, who had underlying conditions and was hospitalized at the time of her death. 130 additional coronavirus cases ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 18, 2020

Governor’s Office: 17th Emergency Proclamation Reduces Quarantine Period Gov. David Ige has signed a 17th COVID-19 emergency proclamation reducing the state’s mandatory self-quarantine period for travelers entering the state and traveling between counties from 14 to 10 days. The new policy took effect today. The change is based on this month’s updated recommendations issued by the CDC and ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 17, 2020

Upon approval, 36,000 doses expected to arrive in Hawai‘i in December HONOLULU – Hawai‘i State Director of Health Dr. Elizabeth Char released the following statement following an important committee recommendation that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration grant Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine: “Today’s vote will likely lead to the FDA authorizing a second vaccine to help safeguard ...
Read More FDA panel recommends granting Emergency Use Authorization of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

Department of Health: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/ Four New Deaths on O‘ahu and 110 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Statewide DOH is reporting four (4) additional COVID-19 deaths today. Three are men in the age groups listed below and all had been hospitalized with underlying conditions. A woman, 80-90-years old was the fourth person counted today and also had ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 16, 2020

HONOLULU – Hawai’i received another shipment of COVID-19 vaccines today. The Hawai‘i Department of Health received 3,900 doses of the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. This precious cargo was distributed to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children, Straub Medical Center, Pali Momi Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Queen’s Medical Center West O‘ahu and the Waianae Coast ...
Read More Thousands of COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive

Governor’s Office: Safe and Effective COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives in Hawai‘i  Gov. Ige announced, late yesterday, the arrival of Hawaiʻi’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines. This initial delivery of 975 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, marks an important milestone in the ongoing effort to combat coronavirus and return life ...
Read More Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest December 15, 2020

Counties prepare for vaccinating Phase 1 priority groups HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) and City and County of Honolulu today conducted a vaccination distribution exercise to simulate standing up vaccine clinics to immunize first responders and essential workers in the Phase 1 priority group which includes essential healthcare workers, long-term care facility ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health and City & County of Honolulu conduct training exercise for vaccine distribution