News Releases from Department of Health

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Health is disbursing a total of $30,000 to 23 skilled nursing facilities in the state for communications devices that will allow seniors at these facilities to stay in touch with their family and friends during the current pandemic. Since mid-March 2020, skilled nursing facilities have prohibited visitors and nonessential ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health to disburse ,000 to enable virtual visits with kupuna in skilled nursing facilities

HONOLULU — When COVID-19 and social distancing guidance required healthcare providers to rethink the way they delivered care, larger healthcare organizations were able to rapidly pivot to telehealth and keep pace with the rest of the nation. But Hawai‘i’s community health centers—federally qualified health centers—needed assistance in getting up to speed to serve the state’s ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health accelerating telehealth adoption among community health centers statewide to provide care to vulnerable populations during current pandemic

HONOLULU — According to a statewide survey recently commissioned by the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH), the majority of Hawai‘i residents—93 percent—consider COVID-19 to be a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” health concern, and three quarters (75 percent) believe it poses a real danger or threat to themselves or others living in their household. However, ...
Read More Department of Health survey shows that most Hawai‘i residents recognize COVID-19 as a serious concern and adhere to social distancing guidelines

HONOLULU – During this unprecedented time, the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA) has continued conducting investigations of unlicensed adult residential care homes (ARCHs) and other care services to ensure the health and safety of seniors. OHCA has issued two Notices of Violation and Order (NOVOs) for two illegal ARCHs located at 45-1117 Cobb Adams Road in ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health cites April M. Mabe, Dwayne N. Nasu, Ken Arima, and Linda Fong Arima for illegally operating unlicensed adult residential care homes and home care agency

HONOLULU — After being prohibited from offering dine-in service for the past two months, Hawai‘i restaurants will now gradually begin to reopen their doors to customers, aligning with the state’s Roadmap to Recovery and Resilience. To further guide the food service industry, the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has developed detailed guidance on safe practices ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health issues guidance to restaurants, retail food markets and food manufacturers to support the state’s recovery efforts

HONOLULU – In Hawai‘i, heart disease and stroke are responsible for almost 4,000 deaths per year. During Stroke Awareness Month in May, the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) urges everyone to learn the signs and symptoms of stroke and how to prevent this serious condition. Throughout the month of May, Hawai‘i residents can learn more about stroke symptoms by ...
Read More Neurotrauma Supports invites everyone to join first stroke awareness virtual scavenger hunt  during Stroke Awareness Month in May

HONOLULU — In-state COVID-19 testing capabilities have been a top concern throughout the pandemic, but an assessment of statewide testing capacity this week shows there are ample supplies of tests that can be conducted in Hawai‘i. It means Hawai‘i residents can breathe a sigh of relief. Healthcare providers can now consider testing patients whom they ...
Read More Hawai‘i Department of Health reports COVID-19 testing capacity now up to total of 3,620 tests per day in all four counties as the state begins to reopen

HONOLULU – To help protect essential workers who provide mental health services and their patients, the Hawai‘i Department of Health and the Behavioral Health and Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group (BHHSURG) are coordinating the distribution of donated personal protective equipment (PPE) across the state. So far, more than 12,000 surgical masks, among other items, have ...
Read More Resilience hubs distribute protective equipment donations to behavioral health and homelessness service providers

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

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

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