Maui COVID-19 Update: Mayor Outlines Actions to Protect Maui from Coronavirus

Maui Mayor Michael P. Victorino hosted a LIVE press conference at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2020 to provide updates on actions Maui County is taking to mitigate and prevent any sudden outbreak of COVID-19.

Mayor Victorino said he would be seeking a moratorium of 60 days minimum on cruise ship travel to Maui County. He also said he is asking county employees to stay home if they are sick out of consideration to others in the work place.

“Although Maui County has no confirmed coronavirus cases, we have been taking proactive measures to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our people,” Mayor Victorino said. “We continue to review and prepare continuity of operations plans for each of our departments, so critical services will continue throughout a potential outbreak of the virus.”

Among the steps the County of Maui is taking include:

• Implementing a directive that suspends out-of-state travel for County of Maui employees.
• Seeking a $4 million budget amendment from the Maui County Council for preparations, mitigation, response and recovery of the coronavirus.
• Recommending the cancellation or postponement of events with large gatherings of people that would prevent social distancing measures.
• Finalizing continuity of operations plans for each County of Maui department, ensuring that critical public services will continue throughout a potential outbreak. This includes fire, police, water, solid waste, sewage, roads and public transportation.
• Repeating previous requests to the federal government on implementing a temporary ban on all cruise ships docking in Hawaii to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
• Maintaining a comprehensive inventory of Maui County supplies and additional resources.
• Continuing the multiple-per-day disinfection of Maui Bus and paratransit vehicles. Air-conditioning filters also are being replaced more frequently.
• Ensuring that parks facilities, including restrooms, are fully stocked with supplies.
• Increasing sanitizing measures in County departments by three-fold. This includes wiping down elevator buttons, door handles, counter tops and guardrails.
• Recommending that all County employees stay home if they are ill.
• Regular meetings with various groups in the community, including tourism industry officials, local businesses, service providers and nonprofit leaders, to discuss impacts on their operations and services as well as how the County can assist.
• Activated the Emergency Operations Center, which continues to host video calls with the Governor’s Office, state Department of Health and neighbor island counties.

*CLARIFICATION*: The Lānaʻi ferry is currently operational and NOT SHUTDOWN

“This is a rapidly evolving situation and my administration is taking action each day to coordinate efforts and be ready to execute emergency plans,” Mayor Victorino said. “I want to thank our first responders, state transportation officials, healthcare professionals and County Council Chair Alice Lee for partnering with us to protect Maui County.”

Maui Emergency Management Agency Director Herman Andaya reiterated that there is no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maui County at this time.  There are currently two cases on Oahu confirmed as being presumptive positive.

Among those weighing in include Dr. Lorrin Pang with the Maui District Health Office and Dr. Lee Weiss with the Maui Memorial Medical Center, Emergency Department.

Maui Memorial Medical Center has moved triage equipment outside to gather information and segregate patients who have symptoms in line with flu and COVID-19.

• General information and resources on COVID-19 (coronavirus) can be found on the County of Maui’s website at mauicounty.gov. For primary sources of information and updates, please visit the State DOH website at https://health.hawaii.gov/ and CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/.
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  Maui Mayor Michael Victorino (3.12.20) PC: Gaylord Paul Garcia

  

  Herman Andaya, Director of the Maui Emergency Management Agency (3.12.20) PC: Gaylord Paul Garcia

  

  Dr. Lee Weiss, Medical Director and Chairman of MMMC’s Emergency Department. (3.12.20) PC: Gaylord Paul Garcia

  

  Dr. Lorrin Pang, head of the Maui District Health Office (3.12.20) PC: Gaylord Paul Garcia

PC: 3.12.20 Gaylord Paul Garcia