End Of Day COVID-19 Recap for Maui: “Strong Possibility” Maui’s Stay-At-Home Order to Continue to End of May

Kāʻanapali Beach, Lahaina. (04.13. 2020) Gaylord Paul Garcia for Maui Now.

By Wendy Osher

Maui Has Highest Per Capita Postiive COVID-19 

Maui continues to have more positive COVID-19 cases per capita than any other community in the state, according to Maui Mayor Michael Victorino.

Testing RECAP: 160 Tests Done in Kīhei, 90 in Kahului on Thursday

More than 160 tests were conducted at the Kīhei Drive Through site at the South Maui Gym; and 90 individuals were tested during the Kahului Drive Through site at Keōpūolani Park today.

Next Drive Through Testing is on Lānaʻi on Saturday, April 25

COVID-19 drive-through testing will be available to the residents of Lānaʻi from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Old Dole Administration Building in Lānaʻi City.

Individuals ages 15 and older will qualify for testing.

Testing will be available by appointment only. To make an appointment, call either the Straub Medical Center- Lānaʻi Clinic at (808) 565-6423 or the Lānaʻi Community Health Center at (808) 565-6919.

Testing is also available Monday through Saturday at both the Straub clinic and the community health center.

Food Distribution for Central Maui Residents in Need: Friday, April 24

Mayor Victorino announced the latest food distribution for Central Maui residents in need.  The event will take place TOMORROW, Friday, April 24 beginning at 10 a.m. at the War Memorial Gymnasium parking lot (700 Haliʻa Nakoa Street).

About 300 bags of food will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

The War Memorial Gym parking lot can be accessed through a right turn from Kanaloa Ave. onto Haliʻa Nakoa St. A left turn onto Haliʻa Nakoa is NOT permitted.

To date, the county has distributed more than 2,000 bags of food and produce to residents in need countywide.

The mayor extended a special thanks to: VIP Foodservice, Island Movers, Mahi Pono, Maui Chemical & Paper Products, Maui Soda & Ice Works, Valley Isle Fellowship Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro, the Hawaiʻi National Guard, Maui Police Department and the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Homeless Testing Plans are in the works

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said the next step is to conduct testing within the homeless community.

“We are now looking for a testing which will be done for our homeless both for our Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center and Family Life Center as well as going to the different areas for which homeless tend to hang out or live, and bring them in and see if we can get them tested. It’s their choice, but we’re going to make it available. So we want to cover every segment of our community also.”

Update from Scott Morishige, Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness, and Eddie Mersereau, Deputy Director, Behavioral Health Administration. View LIVE STREAM here.

Health care and service providers are coordinating care for the vulnerable homeless population statewide. Questions included how facilities are being used to prevent the spread of COVID-19, how hospitals are coordinating with sites after someone is tested, and what actions are being taken on all islands to address the needs, now and for the longer term.  A website, https://health.hawaii.gov/bhhsurg offers unified guidance to staff and providers. It is also a place where community members can find out how they can help.

Testing has ramped up

According to the mayor, crews have completed close to 3,000 tests in the last two weeks versus 1,100 in the prior three weeks.

“So I’m excited that the numbers, even though they still continue to rise, we are finding them early and hopefully reducing the opportunity of spread.”

Statewide, the total number of individuals tested by clinical and state laboratories is 26,640. Of that number, 594 tested positive; and 25,017 were negative.

“Strong Possibility” that Stay at Home Order will continue to end of May

Mayor Michael Victorino says there’s a strong possibility that the stay-from-home, work-from-home order will continue.  He said the county may extend the Public Health Emergency Rules to the end of May.  An official announcement is due out late this week or early next week.

“We are not close enough for me to feel comfortable to say we’re done, let’s get started again.  However, we are looking at what we can phase in–both for the purpose of public facilities and as well as different businesses that we believe are maybe ready to be reopened up.  We want to make sure we do it right the first time.”

Grab-and-Go Student Meals Still Available

Grab-and-go meal sites continue to be available for students in need in Maui County.  Site distribution for breakfast (7:30 to 8 a.m.) and lunch (11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.) is available Monday through Friday (except for holidays) at: Hāna High and Elementary School; ʻĪao Intermediate; Kahului Elementary; Kalama Intermediate; Kilohana Elementary; Lahaina Intermediate; Lānaʻi High School; Lokelani Intermediate; Maunaloa Elementary and Molokaʻi High School.

Hawai‘i Coronavirus Total Now 596: 4 New Cases, Maui Total is 112

As of noon on Thursday, April 23, 2020, there are 596 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 4 new cases. Maui County has two new cases for a total of 112 confirmed positive. Of the 112 cases in Maui County, at least 60 have been released from isolation, and 9 have required hospitalization. Maui County now has five COVID-19 related deaths.

Governor’s Update with Scott Murakami, DLIR Director:

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is dealing with an antiquated system, as it attempts to handle an avalanche of unemployment claims. In February, DLIR received about 700 claims each week. Recently, in one day, DLIR received some 25,000 filings.

State officials say claims are being processed at an increased rate now, thanks to an increase in staffing and volunteers and additional claims processing centers.

Director Murakami said individuals can check the status of their claims 24/7 online at https://huiclaims2020.hawaii.gov/status.

He also urged people to make sure their applications are complete and accurate before they submit them since it affects how quickly they receive payments. DLIR is creating a whole new system for federal pandemic fund payments in May for self-employed individuals and gig workers — a group previously not covered by unemployment benefits.

View the VIDEO LIVE STREAM from 4.22.20 here.

https://www.facebook.com/mauinow/videos/2006172512853347

*Video courtesy: County of Maui / Akakū