Other COVID-19 related news from the Big Island and state.
Hawaii adds seven new cases
There have been 442 cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Hawaii as of noon Thursday, including seven new cases, according to the state Department of Health.
Of those cases, 334 were in the City and County of Honolulu, 57 in Maui County, 28 in Hawaii County and 18 in Kauai County.
Identification by county is pending in three cases, according to the DOH.
Of the statewide cases, 42 have required hospitalization and six have resulted in death — four on Oahu and two on Maui.
None of the Big Island cases have required hospitalization.
According to the DOH, 251 of those diagnosed as COVID-19 positive have been released from isolation.
More than 16,000 people in Hawaii have been vested for the virus by clinical and state labs.
HTA: 107 visitors arrived Wednesday
Thursday marked two weeks since the state’s mandatory 14-day self-quarantine started for all passengers arriving in Hawaii from out of state. Those who arrived on March 26 no longer need to self-quarantine.
On Wednesday, 689 people arrived in Hawaii via air from out of state, including 107 visitors and 274 returning residents. Kailua-Kona was the destination for four of the visitors and 33 of the residents, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
By comparison, during this same time last year, nearly 30,000 passengers arrived in Hawaii daily, including residents and visitors.
COVID-19 testing Saturday in Hilo
Premier Medical Group and Bay Clinic, with the support of the county’s COVID-19 Task Force, will offer a drive-through screening and testing clinic.
The one-day clinic for COVID-19 will be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Hilo’s Ho‘olulu Complex. (Testing was moved from Easter Sunday to this Saturday to accommodate the holiday.)
Access only will be through the Pi‘ilani/Hinano entrance.
The clinic is free and open to the public. However, individuals must first undergo a screening to determine if they meet the criteria to be tested.
Clinic physicians on site will make the determination regarding testing. The screening criteria is based on guidance of the CDC and the state’s COVID-19 Response Task Force.
People who visit the screening clinic will be asked to show photo ID. Additionally, people are requested to bring their own pen and any health insurance cards they have, although insurance is not required.
For further information, please call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
Hawaii County bus routes altered
Effective Thursday, the county Mass Transit Agency made some changes to its Hele-On bus schedules. Visit www.heleonbus.org for more information.
Salvation Army seeks donations
The Salvation Army of Hawaii currently is serving 10,000 meals per week statewide — the same amount it served for the entire month of February, before the shelter-in-place order took effect.
To help meet the demand for aid, the Salvation Army is seeking help from the public.
You can assist the relief effort by making a monetary donation.
Checks can be mailed to The Salvation Army at 2950 Manoa Road, Honolulu, HI 96822. Online donations can be made at Hawaii.salvationarmy.org.