Updated: 4/27/2020, 3:33 p.m.
The state Department of Health reported a 16th death today and the case count rose by just one case. The latest death is an Oahu woman over 65 who had underlying medical conditions and had been hospitalized since early April. The department is looking into whether the case involves travel or is the result of community spread. Hawaii's case count stands today at 607.
“It’s hard to hear about these additional deaths as the coronavirus continues to take its toll on our community," Health Director Bruce Anderson said in a statement. "While the number of positive cases in the state has dramatically decreased, we can expect to continue to see deaths of those seriously impacted by the disease.”
Last night, the department reported the 15th fatality -- an Oahu man over 65 who had underlying medical conditions. The man had been hospitalized since March and his case is believed to be the result of community spread.
Today's one new case is an employee of the Maui Medical Group who worked at Maui Memorial Medical Center. The health department is investigating the source of the infection. Maui Memorial has had a cluster of 58 cases, with 37 staff and 20 patients falling ill.
The Oahu case count is now at 396, Maui County 113, Hawaii Island 70, and Kauai 21. No cases are pending determination of county and seven were diagnosed out of state.
The number of new cases has been in the single digits in recent days and Health Director Bruce Anderson has pointed out that Hawaii has the lowest death rate in the country.
Correction: A previous version of this story reported the single case today was an employee of Maui Memorial based on information from the state health department. The employee is with Maui Medical Group who worked at the hospital.
Airport arrivals process involves more verification
Airline passengers arriving in the islands are experiencing a new verification process before leaving the airport.
The state Department of Transportation implemented the new steps at arrival gates last week.
DOT spokesperson Tim Sakahara said passengers get a temperature check and sign a document confirming they will abide by the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Officials are also checking where the visitors claim to be staying.
Sakahara says the latest process is slow but effective in enforcing the quarantine.
Yesterday's Hawaii Updates: Kauai Plans To Ease Restrictions; Quarantine, Stay-At-Home, Eviction Ban Extended
"An airport representative will call the mobile number of the passenger that they put on their form to ensure that it rings right in front of them. If it does not ring, the person may have listed inaccurate information, and is asked to verify the number," he said. "If the person refuses to provide a number that can be answered right there on the spot, they will be handed over to law enforcement authorities and will be subject to citation and/or arrest. Now once the phone number is verified, then an airport representative will then check the address listed for lodging.
"For residents, the address should match their government ID. For visitors, the airport representative will call the hotel to confirm the person has a reservation. Now if the visitor is not staying at a hotel, the address they list on their form is then checked on the county property records to verify that it is a legitimate address and residence."
Airports Division Chief Ross Higashi told a special senate committee last week that at least one arriving visitor on Delta Airlines did not know about the order. After learning about it, the passenger decided to return home.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported another 118 visitors arrived in the islands yesterday. They were part of a group of 475 arrivals, including 193 returning residents, 89 crew members, 31 intended residents and 44 transiting travelers.
All visitors and returning residents are subject to the mandatory quarantine that now runs to the end of May.
--HPR's Casey Harlow
State Epidemiologist Describes What It Should Take To Reopen
State Epidemiologist Sarah Park last week laid out the three conditions that Hawaii needs to meet before she thinks it can start to reopen. One of the most important: -- preparing for COVID-19 to keep returning.
The first condition is one we’ve all heard before -- Hawaii needs to have a strong healthcare system.
But Park emphasized that this doesn’t just apply to hospitals.
It means supporting community health centers and primary care doctors so people don’t turn to emergency rooms, further taxing the hospitals.
The second is strengthening the health department’s ability to conduct contact-tracing. She says this helps slow the spread of coronavirus by identifying anyone who’s infected and isolating them.
Lastly, Park says the state needs to be prepared for coronavirus to keep coming back.
"The third thing that to reopen is to have measures in place throughout society here to slow down spread when it's reintroduced. Notice I say when people are like keep it out of the state of Hawaii I have to tell you, it's just like flu. We cannot keep it out, but we can slow it down," she said.
In fact, Park says as people have practiced social distancing and better hygiene, the state has seen a big drop in flu cases.
The health department’s most recent report says only about one percent of those tested for the flu came back positive.
During about the same period last year, it was about 25 percent.
"After seeing the sort of silverline benefits of the measures that are in place or respiratory diseases come down, doesn't mean they're gone, by the way," she said. "And, what I’m worried by is when the measures start to be opened up people interpret that as back to business as normal. And we have to make sure people understand this is a marathon, not a sprint."
It's not clear how much Park's views to proceed cautiously carries weight throughout the state. Already, the City and County of Honolulu has reopened its parks and is looking to restart non-essential businesses under certain conditions.
--HPR's Ashley Mizuo
City, HPD set up homeless screening, shelter center in Pearl City
The city has opened a new site at the Lehua Community Park in Pearl City as a temporary shelter option for any homeless who want to physically distance during the COVID-19 emergency.
The Provisional Outdoor Screening and Triage (POST) facility is designated a "blue" site. The location is for individuals who show no COVID-19 symptoms after a 15-day lockdown at the Ke'ehi Lagoon Park "red" location.
The Honolulu Police Department supervises the POST sites 24/7. The Pearl City location provides housing and other services and will only operate during the pandemic. If nearby schools reopen, operations will end, the city said in a news release.
Officials said due to the pandemic, "site decisions had to be made quickly without the usual extensive community engagement process."
Mayor Kirk Caldwell said: "“Taking care of our homeless community is especially important during these uncertain times and that’s why we are stepping up efforts to give homeless individuals the care and services they need to stay healthy and safely physically distance themselves.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Editor's note: We’d like to hear how you’re coping with the latest developments in dealing with the spread of the coronavirus. You can call our talkback line at 808-792-8217. Or e-mail us at talkback@hawaiipublicradio.org.
