Two mayors ordered residents and visitors to shelter-in-place starting as early as today as Hawaii’s number of positive COVID-19 cases reached 56 on Sunday.
Eight new positive cases were confirmed on two islands on Sunday, the COVID-19 Joint Information Center said at noon Sunday. The new positive results bring the state’s confirmed or presumptive positive cases of novel coronavirus to 56.
“All new cases are Hawaii residents,” the center said. “Three people have required hospitalization; two remain hospitalized. Travel histories are pending, however two of the new cases had definite travel, while two had contact with travelers.”
In total, 48 cases are residents and eight are nonresidents, according to the state. One of the cases reported Sunday was a child, therefore, there are 54 adult and two pediatric cases. Six of the new cases announced Sunday were on Oahu and two were on Maui.
To date, the City and County of Honolulu has seen 41 cases while Maui County has reported nine. Kauai and Hawaii counties have reported three positive cases on each island.
More than 2,700 COVID-19 tests had been performed for people in Hawaii by private clinical labs as of Sunday. As the number of labs doing testing increases, so likely will the number of positive cases, the center cautioned.
Further, 263 sentinel surveillance samples taken from people across all counties with flu-like symptoms who tested negative for influenza have all been negative for COVID-19.
Effective at 4:30 p.m. today, anyone in the City and County of Honolulu is required to shelter-in-place, which means staying at home and/or work from home, except to work for or obtain health care services, or for other essential activities, according to a press release.
The order, issued Sunday by City and County of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, is effective until 4:30 p.m. April 30.
On Wednesday, Maui County residents and visitors will also be required to shelter-in-place, according to an order issued by Mayor Mike Victorino. The directive will also remain in place until April 30.
On Thursday, Gov. David Ige’s mandated self-quarantine for all travelers to Hawaii goes into effect. The mandate requires persons self-quarantine for 14 days or for the duration of their stay in Hawaii, whichever is shorter.
Failure to comply with all rules and protocols related to quarantines is punishable by fines of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year, according to the state.
Meanwhile, a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew remains in effect for the County of Kauai through May 3, according to a proclamation from Mayor Derek Kawakami dated March 19.
No updates were released Sunday from Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim’s office.
All Hawaii County shoreline parks, public shoreline access easements and coastal lands, undeveloped county shoreline and coastal lands are remain closed until further notice due to concerns over COVID-19.
Today, a pop-up drive-through testing site will be in place at Old Kona Airport Park with no requirement of a physician’s order/referral. Lt. Gov. Josh Green’s COVID-19 Task Force is undertaking the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. effort with help from the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation and Ironman Foundation.
