Ashley Mizuo

The state Department of Health issued guidance for schools, both public and private, to transition to at least some in-person learning.

Mainland travelers may be able to avoid quarantine if they get a negative COVID-19 test before arriving in Hawaii starting October 15th. But some say the one-test plan is unsafe for Hawaii.

The state Department of Health has redesigned its contact tracing program with a new leader to adapt to the surge in COVID-19 cases. It's too soon to tell if the changes will be enough to contain the virus but the program will be closely watched.

Updated: 9/10/2020, 12:05 p.m.

Hawaii recorded three more COVID-19 deaths today and 169 cases of new infections. The latest daily counts bring the state death toll to 94 and the total number of cases to 10,292.

State Health Director Bruce Anderson and Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda will be retiring by the end of September. Both came under heavy criticism for what some saw as their inadequate response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases statewide and in the prison system.

The state’s hospital industry says it’s facing a crisis and has appealed to the federal government to help it staff critically needed beds.

After mounting criticism, the state Department of health has scaled up its contact tracing efforts. It includes a streamlined process with new protocols in the contact tracing method.

As Hawaii struggles to control its soaring COVID-19 numbers, it might turn to Austin, Texas where researchers built a model to forecast how different actions can affect levels of infection in the area. It could give Hawaii insights into using hospital cases to determine when it’s time to lock down.

Hawaii public schools today begin a month of distance learning to kick off the new school year.

But for many students -- and some parents -- it will be back to campus to learn in person how to use online technology and meet the teachers.

The teachers’ union opposes that plan. It says it’s not safe to hold in-person training while COVID-19 cases are surging.

At Kauai High School, about half the students, several hundred of them, are expected on campus to attend all-day classes for one week.

The state Department of Health is working to increase contact tracing after Gov. David Ige put a new person in charge of the effort following mounting criticism of the program.

Some Hawaii hospitals are getting hit harder than others with the surge in COVID-19 cases. But the Healthcare Association of Hawaii that represents hospitals has a plan: it will re-distribute patients if needed so facilities aren’t overrun.

Updated: 8/7/2020, 3:46 p.m.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced today that Oahu public schools will go to 100% distance learning for at least four weeks when classes resume on Aug. 17. After an assessment, the state hopes to transition to a blended learning plan of distance learning and in-person classes starting on Sept. 14.

Updated: 7/28/2020, 2:50 p.m.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is seeking approval from Gov. David Ige to shut down bars for three weeks. He's also asking to restore restrictions on how many can gather together and to tighten face covering rules so that they must be worn at all times when out in public, except when there is a health issue.

Updated: 7/27/2020, 12:17 p.m.

The Hawaii Department of Health reported 28 new COVID-19 cases today, all on Oahu. The daily count is far fewer than have been reported in recent record-setting days but also comes after a weekend when Hurricane Douglas stopped regular activity.

Updated: 7/25/20 at 5:15 a.m.

Hurricane Douglas is projected to produce strong winds, heavy rain and high surf for portions of the state starting tomorrow, prompting officials to urge residents statewide to prepare a plan and stock up on emergency supplies.

Among those who received citations the most for violating the stay-at-home order in the spring were the homeless. As a surge in COVID-19 cases threatens another lockdown, advocates fear that the homeless may be impacted again.

Parents can now find out just how their child’s public school will reopen on August 4th.

Diagnostic Laboratory Services Inc., the largest local lab in the state, warned that the number of tests it can run has been sharply reduced because it cannot obtain the supplies needed to process COVID-19 tests.