Maui Coronavirus Updates

Douglas is now a powerful Category 4 Hurricane as it continues on an approach toward the Central Pacific. At 5 p.m., the system was tracked about 1125 miles ESE of Hilo, Hawaiʻi with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.

While there was a lower level of disease activity in March when schools initially closed, health officials were asked why schools are reopening now when the state has double digit increases daily on Oʻahu.  Also, “Recent reports indicate that there may be activity occurring on Maui island… where there is evidently… a suggestion that there’s at least a low level of community circulation of the virus there,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park.

Here on Maui, there were 115 people who arrived on three trans-Pacific flights on Wednesday including: 35 visitors, 53 residents, six individuals planning to relocate to the islands, 2 passengers in transit to another location and 19 crew members.  

The new Kōkua Maui County Small Business Recovery & Relief Fund utilizes CARES Act funds to help local small businesses recover and survive impacts from COVID-19. The grant program will begin accepting online applications starting Aug. 3, 2020.

“While they have provided video conferencing as an option for public testimony, there have been technical glitches such as dropped calls and disconnections. We all need to work together to support our communities with more transparency and greater effort to ensure our people are given a fair opportunity to be heard,” said Mayor Victorino.

The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Health is reporting 55 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi today–that’s the highest single-day count for the state since the start of the pandemic. The new COVID-19 cases include: 50 on Oʻahu; three on Hawaiʻi Island and two on Maui.

Calling it “the perfect storm,” Dr. Lee Weiss said it’s very unusual for a respiratory virus to have high infectivity and to also be highly virulent. He explained that high infectivity means it’s spread rapidly; and highly virulent, means it has a high propensity to cause illness and people die from it.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino sent a letter to Governor David Ige on Monday offering school safety suggestions in response to concerns raised relating to the planned reopening of Hawaiʻi public schools on Aug. 4.  

Topics covered include: thresholds for interisland travel safety, realistic time frames for the return of tourism, timing to the state’s return to school and education plans, returning to normalcy, unemployment, job loss, COVID-19 vs flu, and balancing a return of tourism with efforts to diversity the economy. 

Douglas 5 p.m. Update: Rapid Strengthening, Forecast to Become a Major Hurricane by Thursday. Andaya advised residents to prepare for possible heavy rains and flash flooding.  Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, he said Maui County has limited shelter space available and needs more American Red Cross volunteers.

The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Health today reported a COVID-19 related death in an Oahu resident.  No further details were immediately available relating to the case. This was was the 25th death linked to the pandemic reported in the state to date. Prior COVID-19 related deaths are posted here. Today there were a total of 17 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi for a total of 1,435 reported over the course of the pandemic. The new cases include 17 on Oʻahu.  There are currently 297 active cases in the state, including 11 on Maui.

US Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) led 29 of their colleagues in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Peter Gaynor urging them to take immediate action to provide Personal Protective Equipment and sanitizing supplies for election and poll workers—and voters—ahead of the November 2020 election.

Minit Medical conducts drive-through COVID-19 testing from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, with diagnostic and anti-body testing available. Minit Medical will call individuals with all results, which are expected to take one to three days.

Produce distribution for the general public will take place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., or until supplies run out, in the County parking lotlocated between the County gym and school cafeteria.

US Representative Tulsi Gabbard host the next in a series of virtual town hall events to update constituents and Hawai‘i residents about COVID-19.

The National Hurricane Center says Douglas is expected to move near or over portions of the Hawaiian Islands this weekend, and there is an increasing chance that strong winds and heavy rainfall could affect portions of the state beginning on Sunday.

Today there were a total of 25 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi for a total of 1,418 reported over the course of the pandemic. The new cases include 21 on Oʻahu and four on Maui.  There are currently 310 active cases in the state, including 11 on Maui. Health officials say 21 of the new cases are adults and four are pediatric. Two of the cases on Maui are associated with a history of out-of-state travel. DOH is also investigating small clusters of cases in Hawaiʻi associated with out-of-state workers, who were exempt from mandatory quarantine as critical infrastructure workers. Department officials say there has been no spread beyond this cluster, as all involved workers were not interacting with the broader community as part of the exemption and are now in quarantine.

The HSTA president called the ʻohana bubble concept a “divorce from reality,” and said, “HSTA has no confidence that our school buildings are ready to open for our students.” The department is urging the state to “take its time and get things right.”

Beginning Wednesday, July 22, 2020 the Kīpahulu District of Haleakalā National Park will reopen for day-use only Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Pīpīwai Trail and Kūloa Point Trail will also reopen.

Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say Tropical Storm Douglas, located about 1260 miles SW of the southern tip of Baja California and 2035 miles East of Hilo, continues to strengthen and could become a hurricane later today or tonight.  Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center say Tropical Storm Douglas, located about 1260 miles SW of the southern tip of Baja California and 2035 miles East of Hilo, continues to strengthen and could become a hurricane later today or tonight.