The state Judiciary said a South Kohala District Court employee has tested positive for COVID-19.
This worker at the Waimea courthouse is the only confirmed case of any Judiciary employee statewide, the Judiciary said in a statement.
The individual was asymptomatic, but took a COVID-19 test on Saturday as a precautionary measure, unrelated to the person’s work at the Judiciary. The test came back positive Monday afternoon and the employee immediately went home to self-isolate.
All employees at the facility were directed to go home, self-quarantine, and advised to monitor their health, seek advice of a medical provider, including the possibility of their own test for COVID-19.
The Judiciary has conferred with the Department of Health, which is in the process of contact tracing.
The courthouse is closed today. Arrangements are being made for the facility to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Once facility cleaning is complete, reopening of the courthouse will be pending staff availability.
As a result of the closure, the Chief Justice issued an order extending the filing deadline for documents due today in the South Kohala District Court. Those documents will be considered to have been timely filed if they are filed by Wednesday.
In addition, all hearings or trials canceled due to the closure will be rescheduled to the next available date with due consideration for any statutory mandates.
The Judiciary has been limiting access to its facilities to those with official court business only. Face coverings are required, social distancing measures are in place, and increased cleaning of high traffic areas in the courthouse are performed daily.