State debates contact tracer workforce
HONOLULU — The state is in the midst of a debate about the number of contact tracers needed to locate people who have had close contact with people who tested positive for the coronavirus, while Democratic Lt. Gov. Josh Green called for new oversight for the program.
Green called for State Epidemiologist Sarah Park to be removed from management of the state’s contact tracing effort.
Green said he wants to employ 400-500 contact tracers, while estimating the state needs hundreds more.
“We can either contact trace or lock down,” Green said last Friday.
Park did not respond directly to Green’s statement. A spokesperson said Park and state Health Director Bruce Anderson would only answer questions during scheduled news briefings as a result of their workload.
The state COVID-19 Joint Information Center responded to a request for comment from the Associated Press with a statement by Gov. David Ige, which said in part, “I am in ongoing discussions with DOH leadership on ways to improve our testing and contact tracing systems and capacity. And we are confident that plans and resources are being put in place to meet the needs of our community.”
Park told a state Senate committee Thursday that the Department of Health has 105 active contact tracers and is adding more.
There are 62 contact tracers on Oahu, 18 each on Maui and Hawaii Island and seven on Kauai, Park said.
The department can only add tracers through a phased approach accounting for work-space limitations and the need for effective teamwork, Park said.
Ige appoints new directors as labor chief resigns
HONOLULU — Gov. David Ige said Monday that he appointed a new interim director of the state Department of Taxation and an acting director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
Anne E. Perreira-Eustaquio will serve as director of the Labor and Industrial Relations Department for 60 days or until the position is permanently filled.
She has served as deputy director of the department since October 2019 following various roles in the department’s unemployment division.
Perreira-Eustaquio’s appointment follows the departure of Scott Murakami, who resigned his position as director last week.
Ige announced Isaac Choy will take over the Taxation Department effective immediately, although his appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
Choy is a licensed certified public accountant who served in the state House from 2008-18. His most recent position has been as controller of Koolauloa Health Center, where he oversaw compliance and regulatory reporting.
