Hawaii Grapples With How To Use Stockpile Of Rapid COVID-19 Tests - Honolulu Civil Beat
The fast COVID tests have certain limitations but still hold potential to assist during future outbreaks. Reading time: 4 minutes.
Some 720,000 rapid COVID-19 tests nearing their official expiration date in March sit in a state warehouse.
The Hawaii Department of Health bought the rapid tests last fall to meet the needs of long-term care facilities after a federal allotment of the tests ran dry. Eventually, long-term care facilities received another type of test Abbott BinaxNOW tests sent to nursing homes by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that do not require extra equipment to analyze results. That led to the current stockpile, according to DOH Spokeswoman Janice Okubo.
Hawaii’s Kilauea erupts. Evacuations underway as lava threatens communities.by wpjljron
Friday, May 4th, 2018.Hawaii’s Kilauea erupts. Evacuations underway as lava threatens communities.After authorities had warned for several days of an impending eruption, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano delivered Thursday. White clouds of steam and volcanic gases rose high in the sky above the southeastern part of Hawaii Island. A river of destructive lava flowing underground was released around 4:30 p.m. local time into a residential subdivision, prompting people in the area […]
After authorities had warned for several days of an impending eruption, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano delivered Thursday. White clouds of steam and volcanic gases rose high in the sky above the southeastern part of Hawaii Island.
December 31, 2020 at 12:41 pm
The State Department of Health has confirmed 188 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number since Dec. 20. The total number of Hawaii residents who have had COVID-19 is now 21,397. In the past 14 days, the number of new cases has been 1619. These numbers reflect tests as of two days ago, Tues, Dec. 29. During the holidays the number of new cases may have shown as artificially low because of lags in testing or lab reporting. However, state officials have cautioned about gatherings as a primary source of spread. The largest number of new cases is on O’ahu, at 135, and may include inmates within prisons on that island, as several prisons have had outbreaks.
December 31, 2020 at 6:40 am
Gov. David Ige has approved Kaua‘i Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request to implement a pre- and post-travel testing program for visitors who stay in “resort bubble” hotels, effective January 5.
Kaua’i previously had opted out of the Safe Travels pre-travel testing program, because of concerns about adding any COVID-19 cases to the island, which has a very limited hospital capacity.
“This proposal will allow Kauaʻi to move forward with limited tourism in ‘resort bubbles’ while honoring the county’s request to opt-out of the Safe Travels pre-travel testing program,” said Gov. David Ige.
“Travelers who participate in this program will be able to enjoy resort amenities and visit the pool for the first three days of their vacations, until they are eligible to take their post-travel test,” said Mayor Kawakami. “Once the post-travel test shows they are COVID-free, they can enjoy all that Kaua‘i has to offer.”
Worldwide cases: 82,891,737 Worldwide number of people dead from COVID-19: 1,808,450
U.S. cases: 19,763,768 U.S. number of people dead from COVID-19: 342,634
According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 776,726 in the last 24 hours. Deaths worldwide increased by 4,764.
According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, 243,266 more people have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in the U.S. in the past 24 hours.
In the last day, the number of people who have died in the U.S. from COVID-19 increased by 3,892.
The U.S. continues to far exceed cases and deaths of any country.
The CDC says the novel coronavirus is always mutating, and there are several variants. Right now, a particularly contagious variant is circulating widely in London and Southeast England, and the same variant has been confirmed in COVID-19 victims inear Denver, Colorado and in San Diego, California. But health officials say the growth in people with COVID-19 in