Maui Coronavirus Updates

The revised rules took effect July 31 and include a limit of indoor and outdoor social gatherings to no more than 10 people. Face coverings are required, and physical distancing of at least six feet between separate groups must be maintained.

The Realtors Association of Maui launches a two-week-long virtual food drive today to help the Maui Food Bank continue to provide hunger relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spearheaded by RAM’s public relations committee, the “Got Rice?” campaign runs Aug. 1 through 15 and aims to collect $10,000 to fill the Maui Food Bank’s shelves with bags of rice.  

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino is urging small business operators to apply for grants of as much as $7,500 beginning Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, from the new Kōkua Maui County Small Business Recovery & Relief Fund to assist them with the impacts of COVID-19.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health is reporting  87 new positive COVID-19 cases diagnosed on O‘ahu today for a cumulative total of 2,197 cases in the state, reported since March. Reporting of test results is delayed 5-7 days. This delay may make case numbers appear lower than actual disease activity. 

Mayor Michael Victorino announced that the County of Maui’s summer youth program has been extended another two weeks until Aug. 14 to assist families impacted by the delay of school openings.

For the third consecutive day, Hawaiʻi recorded another triple-digit single-day total for new COVID-19 infections with a total of 123 new cases in the state on Friday.  Today’s cases include: 119 new cases on Oʻahu and four new cases in Maui County.

United Airlines plans to resume service between the US mainland and Hilo and Kauaʻi; and increase flying to Honolulu, Kona and Maui in the Hawaiian Islands.

By this time last week, the University of Hawaiʻi-Hawaiʻi State Department of Health Contact Tracing Training Program had trained nearly 450 qualified individuals who will be available to be activated as needed, to trace known contacts of COVID-19 positive cases throughout the state.

“I know this hurts a number of groups, and I’m having calls and people are really anxious because they had parties and other things planned.  My response to them has been very simple–don’t do it.  We’re at an all-time high in the state and Maui is having its second worst month on record.  To date we have 42 new cases.  We didn’t have 42 cases when you add March, May and June together–we only had 32 cases. Does that not tell all of us something is wrong,” said Mayor Victorino.

To report a suspected violation of the state’s 14-day quarantine order on arrivals from out-of-state the public can email mpdquarantine@mpd.net. In addition to the police department, the Maui Visitor’s Bureau is operating a hotline for people to report violations of the 14-day visitor quarantine.  The number to call is (808) 468-9952.

The Hawaiʻi Board of Education today voted to postpone the start of school year by two weeks to Aug. 17, 2020.  

Updated Public Health Emergency Rules that limit indoor and outdoor social gatherings to no more than 10 people, starting this Friday, July 31, 2020. The use of large structures that may attract gatherings, such as tents and pavilions, will be prohibited.

Gov. Ige said the suggested changes would give the state maximum flexibility to ensure funds are not left unused.

Visitor arrivals to Maui in June totaled 1,929 individuals, compared to 297,449 visitors a year ago, according to new data compiled by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. The data was part of the HTA’s monthly visitor report which points toward severe impacts of he COVID-19 pandemic on visitor arrivals to the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiʻi recorded another triple-digit record breaking day for new COVID-19 infections with a total of 124 new cases in the state on Thursday.  Today’s cases include: 121 new cases on Oʻahu and four new cases in Maui County. This marks the second consecutive day that new cases have risen into the triple-digits.  It’s also the state’s highest case count for a single-day since the pandemic began.

Dr. Lee Weiss, Regional Director of Emergency Medical Services discussed the logic behind proper masking, the cause of the recent uptick in cases, and why deaths from COVID-19 are not attributed to preexisting conditions.

Beginning Aug. 3, approximately 55,000 juror questionnaires will be mailed to residents in Maui County. They are used to help select potential jurors who may be eligible to serve in 2021. Individuals are selected at random.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea gifted more than 800 employees with gift cards to locally owned restaurants and markets on Wednesday. The Resort’s monthly act of care aims to support employees financially or with essentials, while aiding local businesses as well.

Mayor Victorino said structures like tents and umbrellas lead to congregating and gathering. More than 200 COVID-19 tests were administered today during a drive-through event at Keōpūolani Park in Central Maui.  Mayor Victorino said, “Many of them, according to the staff that was there, many of them were the same faces they saw on Facebook at that drum ring celebration.”  

Special Agents from the Investigations Division of the Department of the Attorney General arrested 57-year-old Tiny Nitro Tadani at a vendor booth on Ward Avenue this morning.