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Hawaii Updates: Cases Again Up 1; Unemployment Claims Still Backlogged; Hawaii Joins Western Pact

Casey Harlow / HPR

Updated: 5/2/2020, 12:13 p.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Health officials reported one new case of the coronavirus today, the second day running of a single additional case and continuing a trend of single-digit increases in recent days that is spurring efforts to reopen the state. Hawaii's case count is at 620. Deaths stand at 16.

Oahu's count is now at 400, Maui County stands at 117, Hawaii County at 73, and Kauai at 21. 

More than half of unemployment claims remain unpaid

Hawaii workers still are waiting for their backlogged jobless checks, even while the state ramps up processing of the coronavirus-caused flood of unemployment applications.

Through Thursday, the state received 229,142 unduplicated applications, with 81,507 claims paid out or 45.24 percent of the claims in process.

Unemployment insurance benefits totaling $204,008,614.99 have been paid out from April 1 to April 30.

The state has begun to add the $600 per week additional benefits approved in the federal CARES Act, although some claimants will need to wait for their full allotment of the added aid.

This week, the state opened a website for the self-employed, independent contractors and gig workers to take pre-applications for benefits available outside of the system for regular unemployment. Processing of the applications, however, isn't scheduled to begin until mid-May.

Governor joins Western states alliance afterall

Gov. David Ige initially demurred when asked if Hawaii planned to join with other Western states in a pact to coordinate the reopening of their economies. 

The Maui Chamber of Commerce had urged the governor to become part of the Western States Pact so that the state can develop plans regionally on issues like interstate tourism and travel.

The governors representing the West Coast states, Washington's Jay Inslee, Oregon's  Kate Brown and California's Gavin Newsom, initiated the alliance. Other Western state governors have since joined the pact.

Ige said at first he would not join the group because Hawaii is not connected by land to the other members. 

But on Thursday Ige let drop during his Facebook Live Community Connections show that Hawaii has aligned with the pact.

Asked for clarification, his communications team confirmed by email that the state is participating in the Western states coalition, but added "because of Hawaii's geographic separation, there isn't the critical need to coordinate policy changes and activities with the western states."

"However, we did agree that there would be tremendous benefit in sharing best practices and ideas as we look at reopening our economies. There’s a lot of complementary activity that we can engage in, such as tracking down personal protective equipment and other challenges that all states are struggling with. The opportunity to discuss and coordinate with other western governors is a tremendous benefit to the people of Hawai‘i," according to the statement.

Ige has worked with other western governors over the years through the Western Governor's Association, which he chaired last year.

UH dorm students returning home to Neighbor Islands get pass on quarantine

University of Hawaii students living on the Neighbor Islands who had been staying in campus dormitories are getting a reprieve.

They can travel to Oahu to pack up their belongings and return to their island of residence without undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine required of travelers.

Gov. David Ige issued that guidance ths week after the university directed those in dorms to pack up their rooms.

UH broke for spring break then closed in-person classes as the coronavirus pandemic prompted stay-at-home orders.

The governor's guidance is restrictive. Students and those helping them are only spared quarantine to move out; they can't buy groceries, shop, run errands, visit family or friends, or engage in any other activity not directly connected to vacating the dorms. They will need to wear masks and adhere to social distancing practices.

Students are required to print out an email that was sent by their schools explaining the quarantine waiver to show to airport screeners.

 

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.

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