HAWAI‘I COVID-19 JOINT INFORMATION CENTER DAILY NEWS DIGEST Dec. 24, 2020
Posted on Dec 24, 2020 in COVID-19, COVID-19 News Releases, Latest Department News, NewsroomDepartment of Health:
https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/
129 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Statewide
129 additional coronavirus cases were reported today. This report includes cases up until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. Full data is posted on the State COVID-19 dashboard and on the DOH Disease Outbreak & Control website at noon each day. hawaiicovid19.com/dashboard
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 11:59 p.m. Dec. 22, 2020
| Island of Diagnosis | New Cases | Reported since
2/28/2020 (including new cases) |
| O‘ahu | 79 | 17,356 |
| Hawai‘i | 13 | 1,848 |
| Maui | 33 | 838 |
| Kaua‘i | 1 | 139 |
| Moloka‘i | 0 | 22 |
| Lānaʻi | 0 | 106 |
| HI residents diagnosed outside of HI | 3 | 341 |
| Total Cases | 129 | 20,650++ |
| Deaths | 0 | 285 |
Hospitalizations as of 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2020 – Hawai‘i-3, Maui-1, O‘ahu-63, Kaua’i‘-0
++As a result of updated information, one case from Maui was removed from the counts.
DOH Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to Individual Healthcare Providers, Statewide Survey is First Step for Efficient Distribution
Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to Hawai‘i’s major hospitals is already underway. Now healthcare facilities, DOH, and the Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i are preparing to launch the next major step: distribution of the vaccine to doctors who have independent practices to ensure the vaccine is readily accessible and available to them.
According to the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, independent physicians and their office staff are designated as high-risk health workers and should be among the first groups to be vaccinated. DOH Director Dr. Libby Char said, “Independent providers are on the front lines of the health care system serving residents who fall within the high-risk groups. Unfortunately, some doses of the federal allocations of the vaccine have been delayed by Operation Warp Speed, necessitating flexibility by the department, our healthcare partners and the community. We are doing our best to get as many doses of vaccine as we can to the hospitals, in order to vaccinate our front-line healthcare workers.”
Access to vaccination for independent health care and allied health workers will occur through a combination of partnerships with hospitals and community-based points of distribution. These points of distribution will be coordinated in each county through partnerships with the counties and other health and community partners including the University of Hawai‘i. In order to ensure a smooth distribution and delivery of the vaccines, DOH launched a survey that they’re asking independent healthcare providers to fill out. To access the survey:
Weekly COVID-19 Cluster Report
DOH’s six-page weekly cluster report is attached with this Daily News Digest.
Department of Public Safety:
Inmate and Staff Testing Continues
The Halawa Correctional Facility (HCF) reported 98 more inmate test results as part of surge testing efforts. Of that total, 15 were positive and 83 were negative. There were three (3) new positive HCF staff cases reported. Additionally, 11 HCF inmates and 12 staff have recovered. Surge testing, with the assistance of DOH, the Hawai‘i National Guard and Project Vision Hawai‘i, will continue at HCF until there are no new positive cases at the facility. The O‘ahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) reported one (1) negative inmate test result received. There are no active positive inmates at OCCC. For more information on PSD’s planning and response efforts to COVID-19:
https://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority:
12,725 Passengers Arrive on Wednesday
Yesterday, a total of 12,725 people arrived in Hawai‘i from out of state. A total of 6,571 people indicated they came to Hawai‘i for vacation. There were also 1,375 returning residents. The trans-Pacific passenger arrival data is derived from data provided by the Safe Travels digital system.
To view more: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/covid-19-updates/trans-pacific-passenger-arrivals/
Helpful Resources
Trusted Testing and Travel Partners:
The state of Hawai‘i only accepts Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) lab test results from Trusted Testing and Travel Partners. For the full list of domestic trans-Pacific, inter-county, international and airline partners or information on how to become a Trusted Testing Partner, go to:
https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/
Safe Travels Hawai‘i Program:
Program overview: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/
FAQs: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/faqs/
Email: [email protected]
Call Center Number: 1-800-GO-HAWAII
COVID-19 Expanded Dashboard (Tables, Charts, and Visualizations):
https://hawaiicovid19.com/data-dashboard/
Safe Travels Digital Platform:
https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel/data/
Trans-Pacific Passenger Arrivals Statistics:
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/covid-19-updates/trans-pacific-passenger-arrivals/
Kaua‘i County:
Kaua‘i COVID-19 webpage: https://www.kauai.gov/COVID-19
To report violators: https://www.kauai.gov/KPD-Online-Reporting
Rest, Test, Enjoy! Voluntary visitor post-travel test: https://www.kauai.gov/visitorposttest
Resident post-travel test: https://www.kauai.gov/residentposttest
Maui County:
Maui County travel and COVID-19 information:
https://www.mauicounty.gov
To report violators: (808) 244-6400 or [email protected]
Hawai‘i County:
Hawai‘i County COVID-19 webpage:
https://coronavirus-response-county-of-hawaii-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/travel
Critical infrastructure and medical travel request: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/e2f4ce19aa854964a8fd60bec7fbe78c
To report violators: 808-935-3311
City & County of Honolulu:
Honolulu COVID-19 webpage: oneoahu.org
Interisland passengers arriving on O‘ahu are not subject to the mandatory quarantine.
To report violators: 808-723-3900 or [email protected]
Media Contact:
Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center
(808) 636-8194