Updated: 8/22/2020, 4:05 p.m.
Where we stand
The Hawaii Department of Health reported 1 death and 284 new COVID-19 cases today. That brings the state's total to 6,356 and total deaths to 47. Of the new cases, 259 are on Oahu, 10 in Maui County, and 15 on Hawaii Island.
The Institute for Human Services issued a statement today about the death from COVID-19 of one of its workers.
Connie Mitchell, IHS executive director, said team member Willie Talamoa was 36 years years old.
"We are heartbroken by the loss of one of our own team members," Mitchell said in a statement.
"His young age reminds us all of our own vulnerability against this disease that does not discriminate," she said. She described Talamoa as always upbeat and positive and someone who worked tirelessly to encourage and inspire the homeless that IHS serves.
IHS recently converted its Sumner Street men's shelter into a temporary quarantine center after a cluster of about 20 cases developed at the location.
Mitchell said it is not clear how Talamoa may have contracted the virus. Any IHS clients or employees who have tested positive or may have been exposed to the virus remain in quarantine, she said.
As part of the service provider's protocols, staff are provided PPE when entering any spaces that may put them at risk for COVID-19.
Coronavirus cases have now totaled 5,806 on Oahu, 192 on Hawaii Island, 279 in Maui County, and 56 on Kauai. Twenty-three cases were diagnosed out of state.
Among the reported cases:
• A Hawaii State Federal Credit Union employee at the Kaimuki branch has tested positive for COVID-19, the financial services nonprofit said in a news release. The branch has been temporarily closed. The employee last worked at the branch on Aug. 18 and is self-isolating at home. All employees have been notified and those who may have had direct contact with the worker have been asked to quarantine at home. The worker did not have direct contact with credit union members. The brnach is being professionally cleanred and disinfected, the credit union said.
OCCC inmates, staff testing positive inch up
The number of Oahu Community Correctional Center inmates testing positive edged up by 1 today to a total of 242. The number of OCCC adult corrections officers testing positive remains at 43, the state Department of Public Safety said today.
DPS said it has completed an initial round of mass testing and that the Department of Health plans to conduct follow up testing of all OCCC inmates in the weeks to come.
The department also released the names of 25 inmates released Thursday under the Hawaii Supreme Court's order to ease overcrowding at OCCC during the COVID-19 outbreak.
OCCC Inmates Released Based on Hawaii Supreme Court Order 8-20-20
UNITE HERE Local 5 reacts to 'resort bubble' plan
UNITE HERE Local 5, which represents more than 12,000 hospitality, healthcare and food service workers in the state, is calling for state leaders to focus on controlling COVID-19 before reopening the state to visitors.
Last week, Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami and Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino announced they were discussing the possibility of an enhanced movement quarantine -- or "resort bubble" -- for visitors. This would allow visitors to do their 14-day quarantine on a resort property, allowing them to access hotel amenities outside their room.
Earlier this week, Kawakami discussed the use of a wristband with geo-tracking capabilities to ensure visitors remained on the property.
While the idea may help to jump start the tourism industry in the state, Local 5 believes state and business leaders should do what is needed to get the outbreak under control, help residents, and include hospitality workers in the discussions to reopen the tourism industry.
In a released statement, the union says plans for a resort or travel bubble "fail at first glance" because they don't contain provisions to ensure the safety of workers and their families, adding hospitality jobs won't return "until we have proved we can keep COVID-19 under control."
"Hawaii is blowing our one chance to get it right. It is no virtue to announce vague and poorly planned measures that cannot work. Hopefully, it's not too late to get back to the drawing board."
Kawakami and Victorino both emphasized the resort plan is still in the early stages of discussion, and there is no timeline for when it will be approved.
Drive-through COVID testing this weekend on Oahu
Three drive-through COVID-19 testing events on Oahu are being held this weekend at Geiger Community Park, Kaka'ako Waterfront Park and Wahiawa District Park.
Testing at Geiger Community Park in Ewa is scheduled today from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. run by Kalihi Kai Urgent Care
Premier Medical Group plans a drive-through testing event at Kaka'ako Waterfront Park tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kalihi Kai Urgent Care will also hold testing at Wahiawa District Park tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Participants should follow the posted signs to the test areas. All who attend will first be screened and asked to provide personal information and contact numbers so they can be notified of the results.
For more information on the testing, contact Premier Medical Group Hawaii at (808) 304-8816 or (808) 367-6020, and Kalihi Kai Urgent Care at (808) 841-2273.
This is a developing story. Please check back for upates. Editor's note: We’d like to hear how you’re coping with the latest COVID-19 developments and the state's phased reopening. You can call our talkback line at 808-792-8217. Or e-mail us at talkback@hawaiipublicradio.org.
