Hawai‘i COVID-19 News Update – December 29, 2021

Aloha,

Here are the latest COVID-19 news and issues facing Hawai'i that you need to know this week.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi says he will not impose any new COVID-19 restrictions on O‘ahu.

During a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Blangiardi said, “We’re not going to announce any restrictions at this time…we will drop the hammer if we have to. It’s about personal responsibility. We will be nimble as a city administration. Our eyes are on the hospitals. We will not allow our hospitals to get overrun.”
With the surge of the Omicron variant, Hawaiʻi County is reinstating some COVID rules such as reducing the indoor gathering limit to 10 people from 25, and other leaders such as Maui’s Mayor Mike Victorino are also looking at additional restrictions.
UHERO’s Executive Director Carl Bonham said, “If we could get everybody boosted and recognize that that old definition of fully vaccinated is three doses. That’s going to be an important piece of keeping businesses open and keeping, you know, keeping the state running.”
Meanwhile, Hawaiʻi’s workers and businesses are experiencing pandemic fatigue amid surging infection counts as the COVID-19 threat is poised to enter its third year. Some are choosing to close amid the surge, restaurants are reducing the menu with chefs out sick, and the existing first responder workforce is being stretched thin amid high workload demand.

Hawaiʻi continues to experience a COVID-19 surge in infections and hospitalizations, as omicron accounts for 66% of cases statewide. 

Health officials report 1,561 new COVID-19 infections and three additional deaths on Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 106,158, according to Hawaiʻi News Now.
The number of COVID hospitalizations in Hawaiʻi has tripled over the past two weeks, at a time when health officials continue to sound the alarm that hospitals are understaffed. On Monday, 100 people were hospitalized with COVID statewide, compared to 34 people on December 13. At least 88 COVID patients are on Oʻahu.
The Hawai‘i Department of Health identified new COVID-19 clusters on O‘ahu, including from two from the Hawai‘i’s Finest Music Festival – one from the concert at Bishop Museum and one from the after-party at Moani Waikīkī – as well as an event with the Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaiʻi at Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Two Hawai‘i elected officials have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week, including U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele and Hawai‘i Island Mayor Mitch Roth, according to reporting from Hawaiʻi News Now.

Queen’s Medical Center reports a growing demand for booster shots as case counts soar.

Queen’s announced expanded hours at its Blaisdell vaccination clinic from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday to meet the growing demand for booster doses, following the sharp jump in case counts.
Mary Bedell, director of Queen’s vaccination clinics, said, “We are seeing a huge increase in our volumes, starting at the beginning of last week. I think people want to get their boosters. I think they’re seeing the numbers, and they are hearing that it is highly contagious, and they’re trying to protect themselves.”
According to Lt. Gov. Josh Green, most “breakthrough infections” ending up in the hospital are over 60 years of age, with chronic disease, and haven’t gotten their booster shot.
The Honolulu Star Advertiser writes that early treatment options for COVID-19, which show promise for keeping those at high risk of developing severe illness out of the hospital and from dying, are in short supply in the islands.
DOH expands access to free testing on O‘ahu from January 2 to 15. The bridge testing program will provide capacity for 2,000 additional tests a day at sites such as the Waikiki Shell, Neal Blaisdell Center, and Kapolei will offer testing on a first-come-first-served basis. In addition to bridge testing, DOH is offering free community testing in partnership with the Kidney Foundation and independent pharmacies at a total of 23 sites statewide.

Hawai‘i Department of Health revises its state’s COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidelines to align with the CDC’s new recommendations.

Earlier this week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance shortening the recommended times that people should isolate after testing positive for the virus from 10 days to five if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask around others for at least five more days.
The CDC’s new recommendation doesn't sit well with local epidemiologist and Senior Fellow with the East-West Center, Dr. Tim Brown, “This recommendation is going to put people who are infectious into business settings or into hospital settings, which frankly is one of the most foolish things you could possibly do with something that spreads as quickly and easily as this. So I think they are increasing spread with this decision."
The Hawai‘i Department of Health says the new policy and changes will go into effect on Monday, January 3, 2022.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble told KITV4, “We are adopting the CDC recommendations as one part of effort our to blunt the current very rapid spread of the Omicron variant. These guidelines are practical to implement, making it easier for people to do the right thing. The guidance also acknowledges the waning immunity we are seeing with time after initial vaccination.”

Mahalo nui loa,

Your BG Team

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