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So far, 182 people have been arrested by state or county law enforcement officers for violating emergency quarantine rules in Hawaiʻi, according to state officials.  The breakdown includes 99 arrests on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, 46 arrests on Kauaʻi, 21 arrests on Oʻahu and 16 arrests on the island of Maui.

Today there were a total of 23 new COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi for a total of 1,334 reported over the course of the pandemic. The new cases include 20 on Oʻahu, two on Hawaiʻi Island and one in a resident who was diagnosed while out of state.  The state Department of Health reports that due to updated testing, three cases were removed from the Oʻahu counts.  So far 994 people have been released from isolation and 317 COVID-19 cases remain active in the state.

Hawaiʻi reported a 23rd COVID-19 related death today on the island of Oʻahu.  Lieutenant Governor Josh Green reports the latest death involves an elderly Oʻahu resident who had been isolating at home with family.  The state Department of Health confirms that the individual was a man over the age of 60 who had an underlying health condition.  

The World Surf League today announced it is officially cancelling the 2020 Championship Tour and Qualifying Series seasons for this year, amid ongoing challenges of international travel and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has found the waters around two Hawaiʻi beaches to be impaired by plastic pollution and ordered state officials to take corrective actions under the Clean Water Act.  

Cumulative CDC data from March 1 through July 10th, shows 2,973 COVID-19 or COVID-like illness cases on cruise ships, in addition to 34 deaths.  These cases were part of 99 outbreaks on 123 different cruise ships. 

There is no tsunami threat to Hawaii after a 6.9 (preliminary magnitude 7.3) earthquake reported at 4:50 p.m. HST on Thursday, July 16, 2020 in the Eastern New Guinea region of Papua New Guinea.  

Governor Ige and his guests, Attorney General Clare Connors and Paul Jones, Deputy Chief Special Agent for the Dept. of the Attorney General Investigations Division, discuss quarantine enforcement and answer questions.

A 37-year-old Maui man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.

Here in Maui County, the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 22.6% in June, an improvement from the 34% rate reported last month, but still significantly higher than the 3% rate reported at the same time last year. 

The Hawai‘i State Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 will convene today at 2 p.m. to assess and advise the Senate on the re-opening of schools.

There are 19 new COVID-19 cases reported for Hawaiʻi today, including–16 new cases on the island of Oʻahu, and three new cases where island residency is pending identification.  This brings the statewide count to 1,311 cases in Hawaiʻi over the course of the pandemic. To date, 975 people (75.6%) have recovered including 120 (93%) recovery in Maui County. There are currently 314 active cases in the state, including nine on Maui. As of July 14 at 4:30 p.m., there were 31 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi.

The thermal temperature screening equipment will be installed immediately at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Kahului Airport, Līhuʻe Airport, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole and Hilo International Airport. Phase 3 expects to have the facial imaging equipment installed by Dec. 31, 2020.

The Hawaiʻi Emergency Laulima Partnership program or H.E.L.P. has announced a second round of funding available as financial assistance for Maui County residents to pay for essential needs due to a layoff, reduction in hours or loss of income related to COVID-19.

The latest list was updated on July 10, 2020; however, three days later, the governor announced plans to move back the state’s pre-travel testing program to Sept. 1.  Many hotels had planned to reopen on Aug. 1, however those dates may be revised to adjust to the governor’s announcement.

From July 24-31, LINEAGE is open for takeout only from 4 to 8 p.m. Beginning Aug. 1, it will be open for takeout and dine-in services from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday; and from 4 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Limited seating is available to accommodate social distancing measures, so reservations are highly recommended.

“We have not had a positive patient with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital for over 70 days–that’s over two months… As of this morning, our census is only 77%.  All together, we have 31 ICU beds and our capacity right now–we have 17 occupied and 12 available… We are licensed for 219 beds and we have a plan that can increase our capacity to 300 patients a day,” said Maui Health CEO Mike Rembis.

The racketeering activity allegedly included “acts involving murder, kidnapping, arson and robbery.” The allegations further include “acts relating to murder-for-hire, chemical weapons, extortionate credit transactions, racketeering, interference with commerce through robbery and extortion, drug trafficking, wire fraud, fraud in connection with identification documents, financial institution fraud, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, money laundering and obstruction of justice.”

The contributions were collected on six consecutive Fridays in May and June. On those days, the Wailea Golf Club had pledged to make a cash donation for every paid round and gave merchandise discounts to customers who donated nonperishable food donations.

The Hāna Highway checkpoint will be terminated when the extended closure expires at the end of today, according to Maui Mayor Michael Victorino. According to the Mayor, the checkpoints at both Twin Falls and ʻUlupalakua Ranch will not have National Guard or Maui Police Department presence starting tomorrow.