MAUI’s 5 COVID CASE HIGHLIGHTS: Mayor Michael Victorino Live COVID-19 Video Update at 5 p.m.

https://www.facebook.com/countyofmaui/videos/207263743674351/

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino’s will deliver a live video update on Maui County’s COVID-19 response at 5 p.m. today, Thursday, March 19, 2020.

The video message will be carried here, as well as live streams on Akakū Channel 54 and the County of Maui Facebook page.

Mayor Victorino announced a number of Public Health Emergency Rules effective as of 7:45 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2020, directed toward limiting the gathering of groups of people and curtailing vehicular transportation except for essential activities or operation of essential business or government functions, such as travel to and from work and medical appointments.

Hawaiʻi’s presumptive positive cases for COVID-19 rose to 26 today with 10 additional cases added including eight more on Oʻahu (bringing their total to 18) and two more on Maui (bringing the Valley Isle total to 5).  The remaining cases are on Kauaʻi (2) and Hawaiʻi Island (1).  Among those with a presumptive positive test is Sen. Clarence Nishihara of Oʻahu.

With the new information, we now know that at least 18 of the Hawaiʻi presumptive positive coronavirus cases are travel related.

Maui Cases: 

2 MAUI RESIDENTS WITH TRAVEL TO EUROPE: The County of Maui has confirmed today, March 19, that two adult Maui residents who recently returned from Europe together tested positive for COVID-19. They self isolated immediately upon return home and are being monitored by the State Department of Health.

DETAILS FORTHCOMING: (information still being gathered)

VISITOR TO West Maui: A visitor to Maui.  Executives with the Westin Nanea Ocean Ocean Villas, a Marriott Bonvoy property located in Kāʻanapali, confirmed that an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is a guest. The resort notified owners and guests of the situation on Monday.  Plans are to relocate the infected individual to another facility for isolation.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT: On Saturday, March 14, County of Maui officials were informed that the test result for one Person Under Investigation here on Maui was returned positive for Coronavirus or COVID-19. This is the first case for the island of Maui. The female visitor is currently in isolation and continues to be monitored by the state Department of Health. Health officials say the presumptive positive test result came from a private laboratory and is pending confirmation by a certified state public health laboratory. This case involves a flight attendant with Air Canada who is currently on Maui.  Gov. Ige said he believes the individual is a Canadian citizen. Symptom onset began on March 9. The last flight that the flight attendant took was March 8.  “We believe that any risk to any passengers on the previous flight is low,” said Gov. David Ige.  A specimen was collected on March 11.  The individual was exposed to a confirmed case in Germany on March 4. Because of the notification of exposure and symptoms, the flight attendant self isolated at the Royal Lahaina Resort hotel on Maui.  Following the positive result, the individual was moved by AMR to an isolation at a Lahaina clinic.

Other Cases of Maui Interest:

• On March 13, state officials confirmed that two visitors to the island of Kauaʻi (who had also visited Maui during their stay) tested positive for the coronavirus or COVID-19, becoming the third and fourth presumptive positive tests in Hawaiʻi.  Authorities have since said the couple is originally from Indiana. They stayed at a hotel in Lahaina, Maui from March 2 to 8 before traveling to Kauaʻi. Both sought urgent care while on Maui before flying to Kauaʻi.  At least three healthcare workers (one on Kauaʻi and two on Maui) have been excluded from work because of possible exposure from the couple.
• The state’s first presumptive positive case was announced March 6. That individual was a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise in Mexico from Feb. 11-21. After arriving in Mexico, the individual traveled home to Honolulu with no symptoms. While home in Honolulu, the individual became ill on March 1, sought medical care and was tested on March 6. There were more than 50 individuals who continued on from that cruise to a subsequent cruise aboard the same ship in the Hawaiian Islands. At least 21 individuals–19 crew members and two passengers–on the cruise ship, the Grand Princess, tested positive for COVID-19. When in Hawaiʻi and made stops on Kauaʻi on Feb 26, in Honolulu on Feb. 27, in Lahaina, Maui on Feb. 28 and in Hilo, Hawaiʻi on Feb. 29,” said Gov. Ige.
• A 50-year-old Colorado woman who was in Hawaiʻi for a two week trip in February, says she has since tested positive for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. It is important to note that it is unclear where the woman contracted the virus and there are others in her area of Colorado that have tested positive–none of them to date are personal contacts of hers, to her knowledge.

Maui Quick Links:

• Maui Now’s Coronavirus Section, click here.
• Maui Now’s Running List of Closures, Cancellations, Postponed Items and Notices for Maui.
• Mayor Victorino’s Emergency Rules begin at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, March 20
  

  Background image by Gaylord Paul Garcia / Maui Now graphic.