Updated: 9/28/2020, 12:10 p.m.
The Hawaii Department of Health today reported no new deaths from COVID-19 and 90 new cases, all on Oahu. The latest infection numbers is the second day running of double-digit case counts and the first time in several days that there have been on deaths reported.
The latest statewide COVID-19 case count brings the total number of infections to 12,203. Deaths stand at 132.
There have now been 11,026 cases on Oahu (90 new cases), 700 on Hawaii Island (no new cases), 388 for Maui County (no new cases), and 59 on Kauai (no new cases). Thirty residents have been diagnosed out of state.
Three cases were removed from the Honolulu count due to updated information.
New coronavirus cases have generally been declining in the state. Lt. Gov. Josh Green said yesterday the 148 hospitalizations reported were among the lowest in the past two months.
"People are doing quite well," Green said in his Instagram update.
There were no new deaths reported yesterday at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, where 26 veterans have died and 106 residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
Operator Avalon Health Care Group is being replaced at the nursing home after government reports found serious deficiencies in infection control and patient management leading to the fatal outbreak.
Waiver of interisland quarantine with test under discussion
Maui Mayor Michael Victorino says officials plan an announcement Wednesday on a possible modification of the 14-day quarantine for interisland travelers.
The mayor would not give details in his video update on Friday, but he said the plan could save travelers to the Neighbor Islands from undergoing a full quarantine.
"Interisland travel with the quarantine will still remain in place," the mayor said, "But by next week Wednesday, we hope to have an announcement that's been approved by the governor and for us to reopen in a safe manner and maybe have modified quarantines instead of full, 14-day quarantines."
Victorino said until that is worked out, he would not announce any specifics but said "we are working on it."
Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said Friday the county mayors and the state are working on how a pre-test program covering Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island might work.
In his latest emergency order last week, Gov. David Ige gave the counties the option to provide an exception to the interisland quarantine, if travelers can show a negative COVID-19 test result.
One issue is whether there would be enough tests available to accommodate all interisland travelers. The state has the capacity to run about 5,000 tests daily but travelers could exceed that number.
The interisland travel quarantine has been in effect since August 11th following a surge in cases on Oahu. Recent easing of the number of new cases and decline in the positivity rate have prompted steps to reopen.
Starting on Oct. 15, the state plans to waive the two-week quarantine for trans-Pacific travelers if they can show a negative COVID test.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green said in his Instagram video yesterday that more partners will be conducting tests for Mainland travelers to participate in the pre-travel testing program. So far, CVS, Walgreens, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines have signed on, he said.
City begins installation of King Street bus lane today
The city is dedicating the rightmost traffic lane on King Street through downtown Honolulu for buses only.
Changes in the lane are scheduled to take six to eight weeks to install, with work starting today.
The bus lane will run from Dillingham Boulevard to Punchbowl Street in its first phase and later to Alapai Street.
Drivers turning right off King Street, which is one-way through downtown, will be allowed to cross into the bus lane.
The city expect the change will improve bus service and safety while reducing expenses to operate the buses.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city wants to move more people through traffic, and not more single-occupant cars.
New signs and pavement markings will indicate the lane is for buses only. There will be no changes to parking or loading zones.
UH football program prepares to shorter season
The University of Hawaii football program is preparing to start a shortened season beginning next month under the cloud of COVID-19.
Contingency plans for the upcoming season are still being discussed with Gov. David Ige.
The Mountain West Conference voted last week to hold an eight-game football season this year, starting the weekend of Oct. 24.
That’s a week after the state plans to lift the travel quarantine for trans-Pacific visitors who test negative within 72 hours before they arrive.
UH Athletic Director David Matlin says Hawaii and New Mexico are the only states in the conference that have quarantine rules. He says UH officials are discussing backup plans if the travel program is delayed.
"There’s obviously some contingency considerations that we’re looking into, but between ... New Mexico, and also, if anyone else has any issues, we kind of got to get all the realities of what’s it going to be," he said.
Matlin says UH President David Lassner’s talks with the governor will cover the scheduled season and state health rules.
"But our next big thing we have to do is we have to obviously start focusing on the schedule. And from that point, we can start looking at different contingency plans if necessary," he said.
--HPR's Casey Harlow
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.
