Hawaii County reports no new COVID-19 cases Sunday; Hawaii National Guard to begin assisting at airports

Hawaii National Guardsman will be assisting at five Hawaii airports today. Humvees carrying soldiers and airmen were seen in Kailua-Kona this weekend. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)
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While Hawaii County reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the statewide total of positive or presumptive coronavirus increased by 20 to 371, state health officials said.

All of the new cases were adults, according to the state Department of Health. Eleven of the new cases were travel-related and two were community related; seven are pending further investigation.

Fifteen, or three-quarters, of the new cases announced Sunday were on Oahu while five of the cases were reported on Maui, including two on Molokai. Kauai reported one case. One of the cases announced Sunday had been previously announced but was assigned to a county after further investigation.

So far, 13,536 people have been tested by state or private labs with 369, or 2.7%, receiving positive results. Two of the positive results were from two Hawaii residents living outside the state that are counted toward Hawaii’s total of 371.

Of the 371 people confirmed to have COVID-19, 85 have recovered and been released from isolation, including three on Sunday. That includes seven on the Big Island, four on Kauai, 11 in Maui County and 63 on Oahu.

Nineteen hospitalizations have been on Oahu, with one each from Kauai and Maui counties.

The state’s coronavirus death toll remained at four as of noon Sunday, unchanged from Saturday. All deaths have occurred on Oahu.

Meanwhile, Hawaii National Guardsman will begin assisting with the medical screening of incoming and departing passengers and crew at five Hawaii airports, including two on the Big Island.

Starting Monday, the HING soldiers and airmen will be supporting Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu and Hilo International Airport.

Support for Kahului Airport, on Maui, Lihue Airport, on Kauai, and the Ellison Onizuka International Airport at Keahole will be starting soon, according to a press release from the state. HING vehicles were seen in Kailua-Kona on Saturday and Sunday.

The Guardsmen will be at passenger arrival gates and TSA security checkpoints to assist state Department of Transportation staff with medical screening that has been put in place during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Arriving passengers from domestic and international destinations, as well as departing interisland passengers will have their temperature taken to determine if an additional medical screening is necessary,” a media release issued Sunday by the state Department of Defense reads. “The Guardsmen will not be armed while conducting this support mission.”

The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Sunday that 683 people arrived in Hawaii via 25 flights to the state on Saturday, up by 55 from Friday. That figure included 106 visitors, 220 residents, 204 crew, 93 in transit, and 60 intended new residents.

Kona International Airport recorded two flights carrying 26 people, including 10 residents, eight crew, four visitors and four intended new residents.

The Hawaii National Guard Joint Task Froce and four units of the Hawaii Army National Guard were partially activated Friday by COVID-19 Incident Commander and Adjutant General of the Hawaii National Guard Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara. By Monday, 342 Guardsmen will be activated to assist the county and state with civil support missions under Brig. Gen. Moses Kaoiwi Jr.