COVID-19 News Conference Posted by Governor David Ige on Saturday, March 21, 2020

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***Gov. David Ige is expected to provide updates on the COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi at 3 p.m.

In an unprecedented move, Governor David Ige this afternoon announced a new order for a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving in the state. He said it’s the first of its kind in the nation. This is for both visitors and residents returning to the state. The order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2020 and will be in effect until further notice.

“We want this action to send the message to visitors and residents alike that we appreciate their love for Hawaii, but at this time, we believe that our community is very, very important and we need to come together as a community to fight this virus,” said Gov. Ige.

“We are asking them to postpone their visits to our island community. We know that our economy will suffer from this action, but we as a community–and again I truly appreciate the cooperation that we’ve received from our hospitality industry to understand that these actions are necessary,” said Gov. Ige.

Those arriving will be asked for ID verification, the location of where they are staying and a phone number for contact. Visitors will be quarantined in the hotel or rented lodging that they are staying. Residents will return to their home where they are asked to stay for the duration. Those under quarantine may only leave for medical emergencies or to seek medical care.

Gov. Ige said the traveler will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport.

The penalty for violation of the order is $5,000 and/or a year in prison.

The quarantine does not apply to flight crews and pilots.

The traveler is fully responsible for the cost of the quarantine.

“We believe it will help us to flatten the curve so that our health care system is not overwhelmed like it has been in other communities around the world. We need everyone to comply with these quarantine orders because the safety and welfare of the people of Hawaii is our number one priority,” said Gov. Ige.

“There is no other time in history of the planet when this has occurred. it is impacting every single industry in our community,” said Gov. Ige. He said he recognizes that we have to work together, and said no one knows how to do that better than those here in the islands.

Governor Ige orders mandatory 14-day quarantine for all individuals arriving or returning to the State of Hawaiʻi

Gov. David Y. Ige issued a second supplemental emergency proclamation ordering all individuals, both residents and visitors, arriving or returning to the State of Hawaiʻi to a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. The mandate — the first such action in the nation — applies to all arrivals at state airports from the continental U.S. and international destinations and extends to other private and commercial aircrafts.

“With the majority of Hawaiʻi’s COVID-19 cases linked to travel, it is critical that we further mitigate the spread of the virus by both residents and visitors who are coming from out-of-state,” said Gov. Ige. “This plan was developed in collaboration with our county mayors and Hawaiʻi’s business, community and visitor industry leaders.”

All visitors and residents arriving through Hawaiʻi’s airports will be required to complete a Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture form that will be distributed onboard their flight. They will retain the form when disembarking the aircraft. Upon arrival, they will go through a checkpoint and present the completed form with a valid identification. Checkpoint staff will validate the form and issue documentation that certifies they cleared the checkpoint. The form also includes information on the mandatory requirements for the 14-day quarantine along with penalties.

The mandatory 14-day self-quarantine orders are:

Proceed directly from the airport to your designated quarantine location, which is the location identified and affirmed by you on the mandatory State of Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Plants and Animals Declaration Form. Remain in your designated quarantine location for a period of 14 days or the duration of your stay in the State of Hawai‘i, whichever is shorter.

If you are a resident, your designated quarantine location is your place of residence.

If you are a visitor, your designated quarantine location is your hotel room or rented lodging.

You can only leave your designated quarantine location for medical emergencies or to seek medical care.

Do not visit any public spaces, including but not limited to pools, meeting rooms, fitness centers or restaurants. Do not allow visitors in or out of your designated quarantine location other than a physician, healthcare provider, or individual authorized to enter the designated quarantine location by the Director of HIEMA. Comply with any and all rules or protocols related to your quarantine as set forth by your hotel or rented lodging. If you become ill with a fever or cough:

Continue to stay in designated quarantine location, avoid contact with others and contact a healthcare provider for further instructions on treatment or testing.

If you are older or have any medical conditions (e.g., immune compromise, diabetes, asthma), consult your regular healthcare provider.

If you feel you need medical care, contact healthcare provider and inform them of your travel history.

If you need urgent medical care (e.g., have difficulty breathing), call 9-1-1 and let the dispatcher know your travel history).

Failure to follow this order is a misdemeanor and punishable by a maximum fine of $5,000, or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both. Enforcement will be handled by each of Hawaiʻi’s four counties.

The mandate will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

“These actions are extreme, but they will help flatten the curve and lay the groundwork for a quicker recovery. We need everyone to comply with these quarantine orders to help protect Hawaiʻi’s residents,” added Ige.

Here is the latest on Hawaiʻiʻs COVID-19 cases:

Hawaiʻi’s COVID-19 positive cases rose to 48 on Saturday afternoon, March 21, with confirmation from the state Department of Health that there are 11 news cases including seven more on Oʻahu, and two more cases each on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

Maui Now has confirmed with the state Department of Health that the statewide totals for Hawaiʻi as of 12 p.m. HST on Saturday, March 21, 2020 are as follows:

Today’s Island-wide totals are as follows:

State total: 48

Oʻahu: 35 (7 new)

Maui: 7 (2 new)

Kauaʻi 3 (0 new)

Hawaiʻi Island: 3 (2 new)

Maui Cases:

2 MAUI CASES ANNOUNCED 3.21.20: (details are forthcoming)

2 MAUI RESIDENTS WITH TRAVEL TO EUROPE: The County of Maui has confirmed today, March 19, that two adult Maui residents who recently returned from Europe together tested positive for COVID-19. They self isolated immediately upon return home and are being monitored by the State Department of Health.

DETAILS FORTHCOMING: (information still being gathered)

VISITOR TO West Maui: A visitor to Maui. Executives with the Westin Nanea Ocean Ocean Villas, a Marriott Bonvoy property located in Kāʻanapali, confirmed that an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is a guest. The resort notified owners and guests of the situation on Monday. Plans are to relocate the infected individual to another facility for isolation.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT: On Saturday, March 14, County of Maui officials were informed that the test result for one Person Under Investigation here on Maui was returned positive for Coronavirus or COVID-19. This is the first case for the island of Maui. The female visitor is currently in isolation and continues to be monitored by the state Department of Health. Health officials say the presumptive positive test result came from a private laboratory and is pending confirmation by a certified state public health laboratory. This case involves a flight attendant with Air Canada who is currently on Maui. Gov. Ige said he believes the individual is a Canadian citizen. Symptom onset began on March 9. The last flight that the flight attendant took was March 8. “We believe that any risk to any passengers on the previous flight is low,” said Gov. David Ige. A specimen was collected on March 11. The individual was exposed to a confirmed case in Germany on March 4. Because of the notification of exposure and symptoms, the flight attendant self isolated at the Royal Lahaina Resort hotel on Maui. Following the positive result, the individual was moved by AMR to an isolation at a Lahaina clinic.

Other Cases of Maui Interest:

On March 13, state officials confirmed that two visitors to the island of Kauaʻi (who had also visited Maui during their stay) tested positive for the coronavirus or COVID-19, becoming the third and fourth presumptive positive tests in Hawaiʻi. Authorities have since said the couple is originally from Indiana. They stayed at a hotel in Lahaina, Maui from March 2 to 8 before traveling to Kauaʻi. Both sought urgent care while on Maui before flying to Kauaʻi. At least three healthcare workers (one on Kauaʻi and two on Maui ) have been excluded from work because of possible exposure from the couple.

before traveling to Kauaʻi. Both sought urgent care while on Maui before flying to Kauaʻi. At least three healthcare workers (one on Kauaʻi and two on ) have been excluded from work because of possible exposure from the couple. The state’s first presumptive positive case was announced March 6. That individual was a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise in Mexico from Feb. 11-21. After arriving in Mexico, the individual traveled home to Honolulu with no symptoms. While home in Honolulu, the individual became ill on March 1, sought medical care and was tested on March 6. There were more than 50 individuals who continued on from that cruise to a subsequent cruise aboard the same ship in the Hawaiian Islands. At least 21 individuals–19 crew members and two passengers–on the cruise ship, the Grand Princess, tested positive for COVID-19. When in Hawaiʻi and made stops on Kauaʻi on Feb 26, in Honolulu on Feb. 27, in Lahaina, Maui on Feb. 28 and in Hilo, Hawaiʻi on Feb. 29,” said Gov. Ige.

and in Hilo, Hawaiʻi on Feb. 29,” said Gov. Ige. A 50-year-old Colorado woman who was in Hawaiʻi for a two week trip in February, says she has since tested positive for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. It is important to note that it is unclear where the woman contracted the virus and there are others in her area of Colorado that have tested positive–none of them to date are personal contacts of hers, to her knowledge.

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