News Releases from Department of Health

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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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The State of Hawaii has launched a new website — www.hawaiicovid19.com — to equip residents and visitors with information and resources to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community. HawaiiCOVID19.com will serve as a hub for Hawai‘i’s inter-agency coordinated effort to combat the spread of the disease statewide and will be populated with more ...
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HONOLULU — With thousands of students off from school for spring break beginning next week, the Hawai‘i Department of Health is issuing guidelines families can follow to protect themselves against COVID-19 infection. Family members who are especially vulnerable include those who are 60 years and older, have a compromised immune system, or have existing health ...
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HONOLULU — Hawaii is shifting its COVID-19 response efforts into higher gear this week by launching a statewide surveillance testing program to identify cases of community spread of the coronavirus. This additional layer of testing helps detect COVID-19 cases earlier so that appropriate steps can be taken to contain the virus. Community spread is defined ...
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HONOLULU – The Department of Health (DOH) Neurotrauma Supports Program kicks off National Brain Injury Awareness Month by unveiling the UnMasking Brain Injury Mobile Exhibit at the “Rock It, Don’t Stock It” rally on March 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa, Campus Center, located at 2465 Campus Road, ...
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eWIC provides a faster, more flexible and simpler way to pay for groceries HONOLULU, HAWAII — Following the successful launch of an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card on Kaua‘i, the Hawai‘i Department of Health will now extend the benefit to Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program participants on March 3, 2020, making access to healthy ...
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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 ongoing investigations and taking appropriate action toward unlicensed adult residential care homes.  OHCA has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) to Emily Lee, owner and operator of ...
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