DOH apologizes for director’s comments about race and ethnicity

Since early March, the Big Island Marshallese Community Association has ramped up efforts to educate and promote awareness about COVID-19 among members of the Marshallese community. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)

ANDERSON

Since early March, the Big Island Marshallese Community Association has ramped up efforts to educate and promote awareness about COVID-19 among members of the Marshallese community. Outreach efforts include social media postings, visiting affordable housing and distributing masks, as well as information that has been translated. On April 25, the association distributed masks and COVID-19 flyers, educated community members and facilitated with screening at the West Hawaii Community Health Center in Kailua-Kona. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)

Since early March, the Big Island Marshallese Community Association has ramped up efforts to educate and promote awareness about COVID-19 among members of the Marshallese community.

The Big Island Marshallese Community Association distributes masks and COVID-19 flyers in Ocean View. (Courtesy photos/Special to West Hawaii Today)

The state Department of Health on Friday apologized for comments its director made about race and ethnicity while discussing the recent cluster of COVID-19 cases associated with McDonald’s restaurants in Kona.