Maui Coronavirus Updates

The “STEM Imagineers” of Pukalani Elementary were heading to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky on April 24th, but due to the COVID19 virus, the competition was canceled. Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura in partnership with teacher Debbie Hisashima will do a virtual showcase on Zoom with these Imagineer students to learn about their Robotics project.

More than 500 bags of food were distributed today, April 16, to individuals impacted by COVID-19 in West Maui. The next food distribution will take place tomorrow, Friday, April 17 on the Island of Lānaʻi.

Hale Makua Health Services has a newly confirmed COVID-19 positive case.  This brings the total to two individuals who are Home Health patients that are positive; and one who is a nursing home resident at the Kahului facility, who tested positive but is asymptomatic and recovering.

Drive-through COVID-19 testing will take place in Hāna on Friday, April 17, in the parking lot across from the tennis court at the Hāna Ball Park.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino holds his daily press briefing, starting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

Governor David Ige said that while the number of new cases is promising, the state does not yet qualify for the President’s phased in reopening of the economy. He said Hawaiʻi would need a downward trajectory in cases for a 14-day period.

The Lifeline program extends access to internet and television services to low-income Americans for free or at a reduced cost.

As of noon on Thursday, April 16, 2020, there are 541 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 11 new cases. Maui County has 3 new cases for a total of 95 confirmed positive. Of the 95 cases in Maui County, at least 44 have been released from isolation, and 7 have required hospitalization.

Round Table Pizza Kīhei and Lahaina have been delivering meals to essential workers and first responders in the Maui community.  

In addition to stimulus check scams, con-artists are also offering corona virus testing, sometimes even going door to door, in an attempt to steal your health insurance or Medicare information to submit false claims or to steal your money. Scammers are impersonating the CDC and even offering fake cures or vaccines.

Today’s guest is Dr. Lee Weiss, Regional Director of Emergency Medical Services.  In his interview, Dr. Weiss discussed how the virus is believed to have started, lack of immunity and the period of infection. 

The Hawai‘i National Guard is increasing its personnel to 1,200 Guardsmen today to help with the COVID-19 response. Last week, 400 Soldiers and Airmen were activated. An additional 800 Guardsmen will be brought on status to assist by today.

Drive through testing for COVID-19 will take place again on Thursday, April 16, at Keōpūolani Regional Park in Central Maui. The drive through testing on Molokaʻi that was canceled earlier this week due to inclement weather, has been rescheduled to Thursday, April 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mitchell Pauʻole Community Center.

West Maui food distribution takes place on Thursday, April 16, at the same site that was used for the Drive Through testing on Wednesday. County crews will be distributing an estimated 300 bags of food to individuals in need that are impacted by COVID-19 in West Maui.

Donations that are needed include non-perishable food, fresh food, produce, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves.

Since the program started on Monday, April 6, at least 192 rooms were booked through the program in Maui County.  Statewide, nearly 1,000 rooms are being used including: 563 on O‘ahu; 151 on Hawai‘i Island; and 17 on Kaua‘i.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino provides an afternoon update on Maui’s COVID-19 response. This includes updates on the Lahaina Drive Through testing that took place today.  Workers tested about 300 individuals at that site.

Hale Makua Health Services received word from the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) that one Home Health patient has tested COVID-19 positive, and that one of six of our nursing home residents who were potentially exposed to COVID-19 during their stay at MMMC prior to being admitted to Hale Makua Kahului has tested positive. The nursing home resident who tested positive for COVID-19 received a negative test result on April 9, 2020.

Among the teachers speaking today was Jodi Kunimitsu a math teacher at Maui High School who is married to another educator who works at Baldwin High School.  “When we first heard about the pay cuts last night, we were extremely disappointed… We just don’t understand why we would be looked at first as far as trying to balance the budget.  It always seems like the budget is trying to be balanced on the backs of the most essential workers,” said Kunimitsu.

Maui County has 4 new cases for a total of 92 confirmed positive. Of the 92 cases in Maui County, at least 42 have been released from isolation, and 7 have required hospitalization.