Maui News

Among the scams reported so far – Imposters claiming to be from government agencies asking for personal information by phone, text and email so they can give you your money; Text messages and emails asking for people to click on a link to get their $1,000 assistance check; and Phone calls asking for bank information to deposit your “Trump Dollars.”

“The coronavirus crisis is impacting us and our communities in ways we could not imagine.”

As of noon on Saturday, April 4, 2020, there are 351 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 32 new cases.  Hawaiʻi’s deaths related to COVID-19 remains at three. 

Hawaiʻi Attorney General Clare E. Connors today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), urging them to reconsider their decision to deny a special enrollment period on HealthCare.Gov during the current worldwide pandemic.

Kaiser Permanente has announced that it will waive all member out-of-pocket costs for the treatment of COVID-19 related inpatient and outpatient services, as of April 1, 2020.

The rural community of Hāna in East Maui could hit 65 to 70 percent unemployment by next week.  “The numbers are sobering,” said Sen. J. Kalani English during an online community meeting last night for members of remote location which reported its first COVID-19 positive case yesterday.

The state is formulating a policy on the voluntary use of facemasks in public. The action comes based on national guidance released today from the CDC, which now recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public, particularly when buying groceries, going to pharmacies and getting take out food. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino began asking for similar compliance earlier this week.

During this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, members of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association have been making the effort to give back to the community.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino announced a new Micro Business Loan Program during a press conference on Friday afternoon, April 3, 2020. He also noted that a food distribution will begin in Central and South Maui next week Thursday.

Maui Medical Group has temporarily amended their hours of operation for their five clinics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hawaiʻi Governor David Ige provided his latest update on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., as Hawaiʻi reported its third COVID-19 death.  

Essential workers who need child care for children under 6 years old during the current COVID-19 crisis can contact PATCH Maui (People Attentive to Children) or the Maui County Early Childhood Resource Center, the Department of Housing and Human Concerns announced.

As of noon on Friday, April 3, 2020, there are 319 cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawaiʻi with 34 new cases.  State officials are also saying Hawaiʻi now has a third COVID-19 death, confirmed just a short while ago. Maui has nine new cases for a total of 36 confirmed positive. Of the 36 cases on Maui, 11 have been released from isolation and one has required hospitalization. The Maui count also includes a resident of the rural community of Hāna in East Maui and a resident of Molokaʻi who is being treated on the island of Oʻahu.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is reporting the death of a third individual with COVID-19. The elderly Oʻahu resident had been hospitalized in critical condition on life support for several weeks after returning from travel to Washington state.

The rural community of Hāna in East Maui has its first confirmed case of COVID-19 according to new information released by Maui Mayor Michael Victorino.  

In a continuing effort to help the island-wide healthcare system and the Maui community, Minit Medical Urgent Care announced today that it will be accepting HMSA Quest members in all three Maui clinics, effective Friday, April 3, 2020.  

OHA is urging renters who have lost income and are having trouble making rent payments to reach out to their landlords and seek payment options that will allow for some relief during this time.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino continues to urge the public to comply with the stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines amid news that Molokaʻi reported its first case of COVID-19.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act are providing resources for independent contractors to help them cover their financial needs during the public health emergency.

Maui Now News Director Wendy Osher speaks with Steve Uyehara at Hawaii News Now about COVID-19 impacts in Maui County.  All your latest updates at: https://mauinow.com