Hawai‘i Reports 2 New Coronavirus Cases on Sunday, 17th Death

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health reports that there were 544 individuals released from isolation; and 73 cases that have required hospitalization.

Maui County’s count remain unchanged from yesterday, but was adjusted downward by one to 116 confirmed positive due to data cleaning and the removal of a duplicate case on island. Of the 116 cases in Maui County, at least 88 have been released from isolation, and 17 have required hospitalization.

The state Department of Health also reported the state’s 17 COVID-19 related death today in a Maui woman.  To date, there have been 17 COVID-19 related deaths in Hawaiʻi, including 11 on Oʻahu and 6 in Maui County.

Maui County now has five COVID-19 related deaths.

• Maui reported its first COVID-19 related death on Monday, April 6, of an adult male over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions and exposure to travelers.
• The second Maui death was announced on Wednesday, April 8, and was an unattended death.
• A third death in Maui County reportedly occurred on April 7, but was reported in the state count on Friday, April 10.  The third case involved an elderly individual who was in the chronic care unit.
• The fourth case was confirmed on April 19, and was an adult male from Washington state in the 40-59-year age group who had no previous medical conditions. State health officials say the man’s exposure history may be travel-related.  The man had been hospitalized for an extended period in serious condition at Maui Memorial Medical Center.
• The fifth Maui case occurred on Monday April 20 and involved a man who had underlying health conditions. He had been in the hospital at Maui Memorial Medical Center since late last year.  This person’s death is considered related to the MMMC cluster.
• The sixth Maui case (and 17th in the state) was reported today (May 3, 2020). The case involves a woman, over the age of 60, with underlying medical conditions. She had been in the hospital at Maui Memorial Medical Center since late February. Her infection occurred in mid-April. “COVID-19 is not believed to be the primary cause of death, due to her other serious illnesses, but may have been a contributing factor to her passing,” health officials said.

At Least 59 Individuals in Maui Hospital Cluster: 

Maui Memorial Cluster Update

At Maui Memorial Medical Center, state Health officials say at least 38 staff and 21 patients continue to be under investigation as potentially associated with the cluster. DOH is recommending the facility repeat in-service training for staff on proper PPE use, and other protective measures. DOH officials say “it appears the outbreak may have been driven by a single healthcare worker who was allowed to work while ill.”

Other Highlights for Maui County:

On Wednesday, April 29, Mayor Victorino identified a short list parks, golf courses and local businesses that quality for limited opening under the first phase of a reopening that began on May 1, 2020.

On Tuesday, April 28, local government leaders visited and toured the outside of Maui Memorial Medical Center in compliance with the hospital’s COVID-19 no-visitor policy, and received an update from Maui Health on response efforts at the facility.

On Tuesday, April 28, officials confirmed that an elderly Lānaʻi woman contracted COVID-19 while she was hospitalized at the Maui Memorial Medical Center.  The woman initially tested negative for COVID-19, but a recent test came back positive.  She will remain on Maui until she is healthy enough to return home to Lānaʻi and she no longer poses a risk of transmitting the virus to others.  The case is documented as a Maui Island case and there are still no confirmed positive cases on the island of Lānaʻi.

Maui Health on Monday, April 27, confirmed that a Maui Medical Group hospitalist who provides care to patients at Maui Memorial Medical Center has tested positive for COVID-19.  The provider was tested for COVID-19 two weeks prior by Maui Medical Group, was asymptomatic, and the results were negative. The provider then became symptomatic and self-quarantined at home.  On Friday April 24, a repeat test was performed and on Sunday April 26, the results returned positive for COVID-19.

A joint statement was released on Wednesday evening, April 22, from Mayor Michael Victorino and Merriman’s Kapalua restaurant confirming the location of the restaurant grouping from March, which consisted of three COVID-19 positive individuals and between 65 and 100 exposed contacts.  Health officials say the grouping does not currently pose a significant risk to the community and refrained from labeling it a “cluster.”

Two individuals from the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center on Waiʻale Road in Wailuku on Maui were moved to a Department of Health quarantine facility after one of them tested positive for COVID-19.  The other man who was awaiting test results has since received word that his test came back negative and he was released from quarantine. Monique Yamashita, Executive Director at the facility said 48 individuals including staff and guests were tested on April 24 during a mass testing event.  She provided us with an update on May 1 saying all tests came back negative.  Also the eight staff that had contact with the COVID-19 positive individual were back to work within a week after all tests came back negative. Yamashita said the facility is still being vigilant with the continued use of PPEs, washing hands and taking other precautions to protect staff and guests.

There’s also two home health patients with Hale Makua Health Services and a nursing home resident from Hale Makua Kahului that tested positive for COVID-19. The asymptomatic resident who had tested positive has since completed the required 14-day quarantine and is still showing no symptoms of COVID-19; however, additional tests will be administered to confirm recovery. As for the home health cases, one client has been released from isolation and is recovering and the other client remained in quarantine at last report.

There was also a confirmed case of a physical therapy worker at the Kula Hospital who tested positive for COVID-19.  A total of 16 individuals who received care were tested and so far, no positive cases have been reported as a result.

The Maui positive count includes at least one resident of the rural community of Hāna in East Maui and at least two residents of Molokaʻi.

*includes presumptive and confirmed cases, data are preliminary and subject to change; note that CDC provides case counts according to states of residence.

^†As a result of data cleaning, two duplicate cases were identified and removed from the counts (One from Honolulu County, and one from Maui County).

‡Isolation should be maintained until at least 3 days (72 hours) after resolution of fever and myalgia without the use of antipyretics OR at least 7 days have passed since symptom onset, whichever is longer.

^§One case is a Lanai resident who’s exposure is on Maui Island and who will be remaining on Maui Island for the interim.