At his Friday, April 3 press conference, Governor David Ige announced that he has activated four companies of the Hawaii National Guard to help fight COVID-19 in the state. Hawaii National guard Brig Gen. Moses Kaoiwi, Jr. has been appointed Joint Task Force Commander, and said in the briefing that 292 National Guardsmen are now available to help. One company has been assigned to the four main islands, so at least 50 Guardsmen per island will be working.
Kaoiwi said the troops will help at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) and at the state’s COVID-19 Joint Information Center, assist with inventory and distribution of medical supplies coming into the state from the Strategic National Stockpile, help with security and law enforcement on each island as needed, help with cleaning and disinfecting facilities as needed, among other things.
Citizens statewide are under “stay at home” orders and asked to go out only for essential activities such as food shopping, picking up food at restaurants, getting medical supplies or medicine, taking care of those who need assistance, and going to medical appointments. People are also able to go out to exercise, but at all times are asked to stay at least 6 feet from other people. And anybody out in an area where others may be are asked to wear some kind of face covering, cloth masks or scarves, while not depleting the supply of surgical or N95 masks needed by health care professionals.
Department of Health Director Bruce Anderson said there is no way to keep the virus from spreading within the state, but being an island state with incoming travelers now required to quarantine for 14 days, all the social distancing measures will help slow the spread, flatten the curve, and keep our hospital facilities from being overwhelmed.
Photo is screenshot of Brig. Gen Moses Kaoiwi, Jr. at the briefing
