Gov. David Ige today announced he is deferring the trans-Pacific travel pre-arrival testing program until October 1, 2020, because of the high number of active cases of COVID-19 in the state–especially on O’ahu. Additionally, he and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell have announced new restrictions for the island of O’ahu, which currently has more than 3,000 active cases of COVID-19.
O’ahu’s new status is called “Act Now Honolulu, No Social Gatherings.” Caldwell said the new restrictions begin tomorrow, Wed., Aug. 19 at midnight, and will last for 28 days. He said social gatherings are prohibited in groups larger than 5, indoors or outdoors, whether in a private setting or a public setting. Face coverings are required in any mall. Restaurant seatings may not exceed 5. Boats may not host groups larger than 5.
All common eating areas are to be closed, and he is asking businesses to reduce the number of employees in a business at any one time. Beaches, parks, trails, and bars remain closed.
Establishments that are open and subject to restrictions include restaurants, retail stores, health care facilities, real estate offices, and churches. Churches are not allowed to have singing–known to spread COVID–nor wind instruments. Schools are exempt from the 5-person limit. Caldwell said the specific order will come from the Governor’s office within the next day.
State Health Director Bruce Anderson noted that today’s increased case count of 134, the lowest in a week, may indicate a stabilizing of O’ahu’s cases. However, he noted there are 287 total cases at the O’ahu Community Correctional Center, and some continuing clusters because of gatherings of people.
Anderson also said he and Dr. Sarah Park are still guiding all the disease investigation activities, although new personnel have been hired. (Anderson did not mention anybody by name, but last week in Dr. Anderson’s absence Gov. Ige said the Department has hired Emily Roberson, PhD, to head up the contact tracing efforts.) Anderson said there are more than 100 people working in contact tracing on O’ahu, including 76 contact tracers plus support staff. He said there are 21 National Guard troops assisting, with 2 supervisors, and that the Department is bringing in 20 contact tracers from the University of Hawaii contact tracing program. He said there are also contact tracers on all the neighbor islands but gave no numbers.
Anderson said the surge of cases of COVID-19 into the hospitals has slowed, and hospital capacity is good. He said some hospitals are moving patients to other hospitals to spread out the work load. He said the state has adequate Personal Protective Equipment and an adequate supply of drugs. However, he noted that the state is considered in the “red zone” by the Federal Government, and that has a benefit of being able to get more supplies and the possibility of federal personnel to assist local health care workers.
Gov. Ige said he has ordered the State Department of Health to provide additional metrics and information to help with public communication and outreach, and Dr. Anderson said that will happen starting today.
Dr. Bruce Anderson:
City and County of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell
