Hawaii Daily COVID-19 Update: August 5

Hawaii Daily COVID-19 update of coronavirus reports and statistics from government departments as of Wednesday, August 5, 2020 in the Aloha State.

Department of Health:

173 New COVID-19 Cases on O‘ahu Increases Total Count to 2,763 

All of the newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases reported by DOH today are on O‘ahu, with 162 adult cases and 11 pediatric cases (18-years-old and younger). Public health officials say that given the rate of rise in cases and the lack of enforcement of restrictions, they expect numbers to continue increasing until there is consistent, community-wide adherence to safe practices. 

Hawai‘i COVID-19 Counts as of 12:00 noon, August 5, 2020

++As a result of updated information, one (1) case from Maui was removed from the counts. 

Laboratory* Testing Data

There were 2,653 additional COVID-19 tests reported via electronic laboratory reporting.

*Electronic Laboratory Reporting  **17 test results were inconclusive

Hawaiicovid19.com 

For more tables, charts and visualizations visit the DOH Disease Outbreak Control Division:https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii 

New Metrics to Better Track And Manage The Pandemic 

With the high number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state, the DOH will be introducing new metrics to assist in decision-making and to better track and manage the disease with a higher degree of accountability, announced Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson. The new metrics will augment existing metrics to assess the impact of policy changes and as a way for policymakers and the public to track the course of the outbreak. 

These metrics will enhance the current dashboard to effectively evaluate the four pillars of the public health response: prevention, detection, containment and treatment. They will be updated daily or weekly, depending on the specific metric, and be posted on hawaiicovid19.com, the website created specifically for information on the pandemic for easier access and navigation.

DOH has been monitoring most of these measures since the beginning of the pandemic, such as the response time for contact tracing and the percentage of laboratory results that are positive. It also has been closely monitoring hospital capacity, including the number of hospital beds that are filled with COVID patients on any given day, said Anderson.

“The enhanced metrics were selected during meetings with district health officers and the counties led by Dr. Janet Berreman, DOH’s Kaua‘i district health officer. “This is not just an academic exercise. The accessibility of this information on a public dashboard allows us to clearly see how well we are dealing with this pandemic, helps others understand why decisions are made, and holds all of us to a higher standard.” Metrics include these categories:

• Prevention
• Detection
• Containment
• Treatment

These metrics are especially important now as the number of COVID-19 cases have continued to climb rapidly over the past few weeks in Hawai‘i and elsewhere in the country. The escalating disease rate may potentially require the state to resume tighter controls and restrictions to prevent the spread of the disease. This will be especially important as Hawai‘i prepares for the opening of schools and, potentially, the welcoming of trans-Pacific travelers. Learn more:

https://hawaiicovid19.com/hawaii-department-of-health-announces-new-metrics-to-better-track-and-manage-the-pandemic/

Department of Transportation: 

New Thermal Temperature Screening Equipment Now in Use at Hawai‘i’s Airports 

The DOT Airports Division, today, revealed the thermal temperature screening equipment now in use to help detect passengers with temperatures of 100.4 degrees and above.

DOT and the NEC Corporation, its subsidiaries, and partners, completed phase one of the project on schedule which included installation of thermal temperature screening equipment at the gates currently in use to welcome arriving trans-Pacific flights at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Kahului Airport (OGG), Līhuʻe Airport (LIH), Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO).

“The thermal screening equipment is a positive feature that streamlines the process for people traveling to Hawaiʻi, while also working the keep the community safe by detecting people with a fever,” said Gov. David Ige. “The equipment is a step in the direction to what will be the new normal as we move forward in the COVID-19 era.”

“I am incredibly proud of NEC’s ability to deploy our thermal screening technology quickly and efficiently while staying on budget,” said Jason Van Sice, Vice President of Aviation, NEC Corporation of America. “Phase one represents a significant step in protecting the health and safety of the visitors and residents of Hawaiʻi against the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only does this technology enhance the overall travel experience, but it will help passengers regain confidence in air travel in the state of Hawaiʻi.” The NEC team is utilizing the skills of Hawaiʻi’s workforce with approximately 90 percent of the employees being local residents.

“The Hawaiʻi National Guard partnered with DOT on the front lines of screening visitors and returning residents as they arrive at Hawaiʻi’s airports,” said Hawaiʻi National Guard, Joint Task Force Commander, Brig. Gen. Moses Kaoiwi, Jr. “Our Guardsmen are adept and will adjust well to the new temperature screening system and procedures that improves Hawaiʻi’s mitigation efforts against COVID-19.”

Phase 2 of the project will install the temperature scanning equipment at the remaining gates by Aug. 20. Phase 3 expects to have the facial imaging equipment installed by December 31, 2020. Read more: https://hidot.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/08/05/new-thermal-temperature-screening-equipment-in-use-at-hawaiis-airports/

Watch video of the temperature screening system and listen to DOT and NEC representatives: https://vimeo.com/445065928 

Department of Public Safety: 

Sheriff Division Employee Tests Positive for Covid-19

PSD has been notified that a Deputy Sheriff in the Sheriff Division Special Operations Section has tested positive for COVID-19.  This represents the first confirmed employee case within the Department of Public Safety to date.  There have been no positive COVID-19 cases reported within the offender population.

The Deputy took a COVID-19 test yesterday (8/4/20) and reported the positive test this morning.  The employee reported not feeling well after work Monday night, and did not work yesterday.  As a precaution, the Special Operations Section building, located on Keawe Street, is closed. All employees were instructed to go home while the situation is being assessed and seek out the advice of their medical provider. No other employees from that section have reported symptoms. The Department of Health was notified and is conducting contact tracing.

The building will be closed today and tomorrow, and all arrest processing and bookings will be diverted to the Sheriff Division Airport Section Booking Station. The facility will be cleaned and disinfected. Reopening is pending follow up assessment of the situation.

“PSD is proactively taking all necessary precautions to mitigate any potential spread of the virus due to possible exposure,” said Nolan Espinda, Public Safety Director. “We are working closely with the Department of Health and remain vigilant in our efforts to safeguard the health and welfare of staff and those in our custody.”

PSD will continue to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 and make additional operational and preventative decisions as the situation evolves.

For more information on PSD’s planning and response to COVID-19: at: http://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/

Hawai‘i Tourism Authority: 

3,029 Passengers Arrive on Tuesday 

Yesterday, a total of 3,029 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 922 visitors and 979 returning residents. There was a total of 34 arriving flights. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday but does not show interisland travel.

AIRPORT ARRIVALS FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020 

https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/5015/080520-passenger-count-press-release.pdf

Previous Hawaii Daily COVID-19 Information

#rebuildingtravel