HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) Food Safety Branch has issued a Cease and Desist Order to Ahmad Ramadan dba Malama Meals located at 91-100 Farrington Highway. The operation was preparing and providing meals on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, and Molokai. “The operation had multiple food safety issues as it prepared and packaged hot meals ...
Read More Department of Health issues Cease and Desist Order to Malama Meals for food safety violations
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HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a case of rat lungworm disease (angiostrongyliasis) contracted on Maui. The individual is a resident of Maui and is the first person this year to test positive for angiostrongyliasis in Hawai‘i. In 2019, there were a total of 9 reported cases. The individual sought treatment and was ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health reports first rat lungworm disease case in 2020 on Maui
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is reminding the public to check for the official Green “Passed” Placard before purchasing food especially from online or roadside vendors that have never been inspected or licensed by the state health officials. Individuals selling prepared foods without a food safety permit put the public at risk of ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health advises the public to always check for the Green “Passed” Placard before purchasing food from vendors
HONOLULU – May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) and the Children’s Mental Health Awareness Planning Group are highlighting special events to build awareness of the need for comprehensive, coordinated mental health services for children, youth, young adults and their families. ...
Read More Department of Health highlights the importance of children’s mental health services for Mental Health Awareness Month
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratories Division (SLD) has distributed a total of 12 Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 rapid test instruments to all counties. The rapid coronavirus tests can produce results within 15 minutes when conducted in a certified laboratory. “Having this capability to test a critically ill patient within 15 ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health distributes COVID-19 rapid test equipment and supplies to public health and clinical laboratories in all counties
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is using a new digital tool to follow up with individuals who have had close contact with a person identified by DOH as having COVID-19. The tool will improve the efficiency of data collection by public health staff. Until now, Department of Health employees have undertaken the ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health uses new digital tool to enhance contact tracing and monitoring capacity
Hawai‘i Department of Health conducts first virtual pre-opening inspection of new food establishment
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers drive-through in Hawai‘i Kai receives approval to open HONOLULU – This morning, the Hawai‘i Department of Health Food Safety Branch conducted its first virtual restaurant inspection of a food establishment, an innovative interim emergency procedure to support new businesses and create jobs in a challenging economic environment. Raising Cane’s Chicken ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health conducts first virtual pre-opening inspection of new food establishment
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) is committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of seniors by conducting investigations and taking appropriate action toward unlicensed adult residential care homes. OHCA has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) to Mariefe Galvez, owner and operator of an illegal ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance cites Mariefe Galvez for illegally operating unlicensed adult residential care home
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s (DOH) Kaua‘i District Health Office (KDHO) will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, known as a CASPER survey to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Kaua‘i households. Survey teams will go door-to-door, April 22-24, to 30 census tracts that are weighted towards more ...
Read More Kaua‘i District Health Office to conduct survey to assess COVID-19 Impact on Kaua‘i Households
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
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
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
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
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has appointed Serafin “Jun” Colmenares Jr. as the administrator of the State Health Planning & Development Agency (SHPDA). Previously, Colmenares Jr. was the acting administrator for the agency and concurrently serving as SHPDA Comprehensive Health Planning Coordinator, in which he provided staffing for health planning councils in West Oahu, Windward ...
Read More Serafin “Jun” Colmenares Jr., PhD, MPH appointed as administrator of the State Health Planning & Development Agency
HONOLULU – Beginning March 30 through July 31, the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is launching the “Stay Healthy, Stay at Home” campaign on KHON2, iHeart Media, and in Honolulu Star Advertiser print and digital platforms. The goal of the campaign is to encourage adults, especially seniors, to practice social distancing and good hygiene to ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health launches COVID-19 public awareness campaign featuring Frank De Lima
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is warning everyone about the hazards and dangers of using non-approved drugs for COVID-19. Antimalarial drugs have been recently reported as possible treatments against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. While hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine prescription medications have been used for treatment of malaria and certain ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health warns of potential adverse effects of using antimalaria drugs against COVID-19
HONOLULU – Internal communication of a COVID-19 test at the Dept. of Health resulted in a report being misread and initiated a retest of samples today from an O‘ahu adult, who died on March 20, 2020. This evening the second test came back negative for COVID-19. DOH Director Dr. Bruce Anderson says our focus was ...
Read More COVID-19 Retest Associated with Death Comes Back Negative
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is waiving routine TB clearance requirements for selected groups to support COVID-19 mitigation efforts. The suspension will remain in effect through May 31, 2020. The suspension will support social distancing in the community to protect the public, especially vulnerable seniors and individuals with medical conditions that could increase their ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health Waives Routine Tuberculosis (TB) Clearance Requirements for Selected Groups
HONOLULU – An O‘ahu adult is Hawai‘i’s first death from COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. The Department of Health reports the person passed away on March 20, 2020 and suffered from multiple underlying health conditions. The available history for this person suggests they had a potential indirect travel-related exposure. The person had been tested at a ...
Read More State Announces First Death from COVID-19