Hawai‘i COVID-19 Daily News Digest June 25, 2020
Posted on Jun 25, 2020 in COVID-19Department of Health:
Sixteen Additional COVID-19 Cases Reported
12 O‘ahu residents and four (4) Kaua‘i residents are the 16 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 being reported by DOH. 12 of the cases are adults and four (4) are pediatric cases. The risk factor for all of these cases are community-transmission. All of the Kaua‘i cases are related to a known cluster and seven (7) of the O‘ahu cases are associated with known confirmed cases and the others are still under investigation.
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, June 25, 2020
|
Island of Diagnosis |
New Cases |
Reported since 2/28/2020 (including new cases) |
Total Released from Isolation* |
|
O‘ahu |
12 |
595 |
479 |
|
Hawai‘i |
0 |
86 |
84 |
|
Maui |
0 |
120 |
111 |
|
Kaua‘i |
4 |
33 |
20 |
|
Moloka‘i |
0 |
2 |
2 |
|
Lana‘i |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Residents Diagnosed outside HI |
0 |
14 |
|
|
Unknown Residency |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Total |
16 |
850++ |
|
|
Total released from isolation |
|
10 |
696 |
|
Deaths |
0 |
17 |
|
* Includes cases that meet isolation release criteria. ++As a result of updated testing information, one case was removed from counts
Laboratory* Testing Data
There were 1,070 additional COVID-19 tests reported via electronic laboratory reporting.
|
Total Number of Individuals Tested by Clinical and State Laboratories |
Positive |
Negative |
|
73,005** |
849 |
72,142 |
*Electronic Laboratory Reporting **14 test results were inconclusive
For more tables, charts and visualizations visit the DOH Disease Outbreak Control Division: https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii
What to do if you’ve been tested for COVID-19?
If you’re sick, have symptoms, and if you are tested for coronavirus, DOH recommends the following guidelines until you receive test results:
- Stay home and if you receive a negative result and don’t feel well, remain at home
- Separate yourself from other people in your home
- Avoid direct contact with pets
- Stay rested and hydrated
- Monitor your symptoms, if your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider
- Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- All household contacts should remain at home until you learn your results
- Avoid using public transportation
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations:
State Releases Updated Employment Insurance Information
DLIR announced Thursday its paid $1,727,662,401 in unemployment insurance claims since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 1. DLIR Deputy Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio said, “93-percent of the valid unemployment insurance claims that have come in since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic have been processed and paid out by the DLIR. We still have 11,405 clean claims ready for payment of benefits by filing weekly claim certifications.” The department has worked to hone and refine unemployment insurance data to more strategically target those with pending claims as well as to evolve processing operations, including at the Hawaii Convention Center and Hawaii State Library. Perreira-Eustaquio said, “One of our current challenges in contacting employers and claimants is them not answering our phone calls. If you are an employer or worker involved in the unemployment insurance program please note that both (808) 762-5751 and (808)-762-5752 is the department trying to reach you to process claims.”
Meanwhile, as of June 24, DLIR has blocked $76,644,808 in possible fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments and detected a potential of $15,829,889 paid out in benefits. Investigations are ongoing and will confirm the exact total of erroneously paid benefits. Since June 4, 5,989 victims have reported identity theft after receiving a letter about eligibility for PUA benefits.
https://labor.hawaii.gov/blog/news/state-releases-updated-unemployment-insurance-information-2/
University of Hawai‘i:
Clinical Healthcare Professionals Needed for Contact Tracing
With the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases throughout Hawai‘i, the UH-DOH Contact Tracing Training Program is looking for more applicants with a clinical healthcare background and an undergraduate degree who are available to be a full-time contact tracer for up to three months in the near future. A smaller number of applicants who are able to serve part-time (at least 20 hours per week), will also be considered. These contact tracers will provide the supplemental workforce capacity to identify and facilitate isolating individuals who are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Aimee Grace, UH program lead and director of the UHealthy Hawai‘i initiative said “Given the state’s reopening and rise in COVID-19 cases, our partnership will serve DOH and the people of Hawaiʻi by providing the needed contact tracing training programs.” The UH-DOH program has reopened registration for Track 1: Contact Tracing Training for Clinical Healthcare Professional to meet this urgent need. The free, accelerated online training course takes a day and a half to complete and is open to registered nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistances, EMTs, and paramedics. If you’re interested in signing up or learning more:
https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2020/06/25/full-time-contact-tracers-needed/
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority:
May 2020 Vacation Rental Performance Report
HTA released its monthly Vacation Rental Performance Report Thursday, and the supply of vacation rentals in Hawai‘i last month was down 64.8-percent, and unit demand was down 95.3-percent compared to the same time last year. Vacation rentals were not on the state’s list of essential businesses during May 2020. To view the full report:
1,536 Passengers Arrive on Wednesday
Today marks 13 weeks since the state’s mandatory 14-day self-quarantine started for all passengers arriving in Hawaiʻi from out of state. Yesterday, a total of 1,536 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 411 visitors and 445 returning residents. There was a total of 19 arriving flights. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday but does not show interisland travel.
AIRPORT ARRIVALS FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020
|
|
KONA |
MAUI |
O‘AHU |
LĪHUʻE |
TOTAL |
|
Crew |
13 |
192 |
6 |
211 |
|
|
Transit |
|
1 |
122 |
|
123 |
|
Military |
|
|
176 |
|
176 |
|
Exempt |
|
|
100 |
|
100 |
|
Relocate to Hawai‘i |
|
4 |
63 |
3 |
70 |
|
Returning Resident |
|
37 |
395 |
13 |
445 |
|
Visitor |
|
48 |
337 |
26 |
411 |
|
GRAND TOTAL |
0 |
103 |
1,385 |
48 |
1,536 |
|
Flights |
0 |
2 |
16 |
1 |
19 |
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4768/062520-passenger-count-press-release.pdf
Department of Transportation:
Gov. Ige Defers Scheduled Harbor Tariff Increase
The DOT announced Thursday it will defer the scheduled 3-percent tariff increase on the orders of Governor David Ige. The tariff increase was scheduled to take effect on July 1 and would have been applied to port entry fees, vessel dockage, wharfage, pipeline tolls, and other fees associated with cargo and passenger operations at the State’s commercial harbors. Gov. Ige said, “Our economy relies heavily on the movement of goods through our commercial harbors.
As part of our economic recovery efforts, I’ve directed DOT to defer scheduled tariff increases. This will allow local shippers and businesses, especially those on the neighbor islands, to conduct business without worrying about a rate increase at this time.” DOT Director Jade Butay said, “State Harbors are financially self-sustaining through the collection of tariffs from those using our infrastructure. Thanks to the foresight of our Harbors Division staff we are able to support the governor’s deferral without negative impact to our Harbors modernization and other infrastructure improvement projects.” The Harbors Division has restricted its program costs and is currently 20-percent under budget. In March, Fitch Ratings affirmed the ‘AA-’ rating for Harbors Revenue Bonds and rated the outlook for these bonds as Stable. For more information on harbor tariffs and fees:
https://hidot.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/06/25/governor-ige-defers-scheduled-harbor-tariff-increase/
Hawai‘i State Senate:
Kauaʻi Will Pilot Education Technology Solutions for Garden Islands Students in Fall
Senate President Ronald Kouchi announced Thursday the creation of an innovative technology project to support preschool through grade 12 students in DOE public schools on Kauaʻi. The ‘Kauaʻi Education Technology Pilot Project’ is reimagining traditional educational models in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be three phases. The first, will begin in August 2020 and will provide internet access, Wi-Fi hotspots, and ensure that all Kaua‘i Complex Area students have a working device. In the second phase, devices will be provided to teachers to prepare them for a mix of in-school and distance learning. In phase three, evaluation tools and internal and external support staff will be implemented. “This initiative could not have come together so quickly without the support of our community supporters and educational leaders,” said incoming Kaua‘i complex area superintendent Paul Zina. “When we identified the problem, and the cost, we knew that lack of funding might be a barrier. The issue was not as pronounced last year when this year’s budgets were drawn up. We appreciate and thank the funding partners who came together in record time to move this project forward.” Altogether there are a total of seven funding partners. The project was developed by former Kauaʻi complex area superintendent Bill Arakaki and incoming superintendent Zina, along with input from Garden Isle principals, teachers, and several lawmakers.
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