Up until around noon on Thursday, April 2, life was pretty normal on Molokaʻi. While the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading around the state, Molokaʻi’s 7,500 residents so far had been spared. That changed abruptly that day with the news that a Molokaʻi man who had recently been in Las Vegas had tested positive for the […]
COVID-19 Cluster Discovered at Maui Memorial
UPDATED 12:40pm, 4/8/20 to include a quote that hospital staff only found out about the 15 COVID-cases when news reports surfaced Wednesday morning. As many as 15 health care workers at Maui Memorial Hospital have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, Mayor Michael Victorino announced Wednesday morning in a video statement. He said the county […]
Mayor Announces New 2-Person Shopping Rule
Only two members of a household will be allowed to shop together at Maui grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail outlets, Mayor Michael Victorino announced Tuesday. “This way we will establish social distancing as best as possible,” he added. The order is less stringent than one mentioned Sunday, when Victorino told Hana residents during a teleconference […]
Molokai Man Had “More than 100” Contacts Before COVID-19 Diagnosis
The Molokai man who became the island’s first COVID-19 case had “more than 100” contacts with other individuals before he was hospitalized on Oahu last week, State Department of Health director Bruce Anderson said Monday. During Gov. David Ige’s news conference, MauiTime asked Anderson about complaints from Rep. Lynn DeCoite that the state health department […]
County to Give Away Face Masks
Mayor Michael Victorino said Sunday that the county has acquired 5,000 face masks that will be distributed to the public Wednesday and Thursday. Victorino made the announcement during a Zoom conference call he had with Sen. J. Kalani English and Rep. Lynn deCoite that was later posted on Facebook. The mayor, who wore a mask […]
Mayor to Announce Single-Shopper Mandate for Maui County
Mayor Michael Victorino plans to announce a new county-wide emergency rule limiting shopping trips to a single individual, he said during a Zoom conference call with State Sen. J. Kalani English and Rep. Lynn DeCoite Sunday morning. English posted the conference on his Facebook page. Victorino said that the announcement, expected to come early this […]
Maui Reports First COVID-19 Death
An older Maui resident with underlying health conditions has died from the COVID-19 virus, Mayor Michael Victorino announced Monday morning. “My heart is heavy with this tragic news,” Mayor Victorino said in a news release. “Mrs. Victorino and I offer our deepest condolences to this individual’s family and know that our community will also offer […]
First Hana Maui COVID-19 Case Reported
Maui County’s most rural communities got more bad news Friday morning when Mayor Michael Victorino announced Hana’s first COVID-19 case. In a news release, Victorino said, “The County of Maui was notified early this morning that a test result has returned positive for a female resident of Hana. This individual is in self isolation and […]
Maui Memorial Quickly Pivots to Address Health Workers’ Mask Concerns
Across the country, medical personnel have expressed alarm at the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) – masks, googles, gowns – available to them as hospitals struggle to conserve scarce supplies in the face of skyrocketing COVID-19 cases. A similar situation came to a head here last week when a number of health workers told […]
Molokai Man Tests Positive for COVID-19
A Molokai man who is currently hospitalized on Oahu has tested positive for COVID-19, Mayor Michael Victorino said late Thursday afternoon. “”The County of Maui has been notified that a test result for a Molokai resident has returned positive,” Victorino said. “The adult male had a history of travel to Las Vegas and was airlifted to […]
Maui: If You’ve Got Masks; Wear ‘Em
The days of masks only being required for sick people or medical workers vanished abruptly Wednesday, as Mayor Michael Victorino told Maui residents “to wear a mask as much as possible, if you have it available.” His suggestion follows a stream of revised health guidelines across the country this week that urged everyone to wear […]
County Help Program Now Taking Applications
Some $2 million dollars is now available through the Hawai’i Emergency Laulima Partnership to help qualified residents impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, the mayor announced at a news conference Wednesday, along with details on how to file for assistance. Debbie Cabebe, executive director of Maui Economic Opportunity said residents who have been laid off or […]
No More Mr. Nice Guy: Police to Ticket Quarantine Offenders
Kaua’i police arrested a Florida man this week for violating his 14-day mandatory quarantine. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says he plans to write President Trump to ask that he ban all nonessential travelers from flying to Hawai’i. And on Maui, Mayor Michael Victorino says the courtesy period for quarantine scofflaws is over. “We have finished […]
Mayor, Pang: How Many Ways Can We Say This: Stay Home, “Spread Out!”
During an information-packed news conference Monday, Mayor Michael Victorino and Maui County District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang repeatedly emphasized a single message: To flatten the curve of COVID-19 and prevent Maui hospitals from being overwhelmed by a surge in patients, residents must shelter in place. “Trust me, when I say stay home, I mean […]
MAUI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL REVERSES MASK POLICY
In a memo to staff late Monday afternoon, Maui Memorial Health Center executives Mike Rembis and Debbie Walsh reversed a controversial policy, reported by MauiTime Saturday, that prevented health personnel from wearing masks in hospital common areas, such as nursing stations, hallways and elevators, even if they brought their own. At issue was the use […]
Mayor: Maui Companies to Manufacture 500 Ventilators
Two locally-owned tech companies will manufacture 500 ventilators on island for use on Maui. Calling it “very good news,” Mayor Michael Victorino said at his news conference Monday that the county, through the Maui Economic Development board, has provided an initial $100,000 grant to get the process started. The companies are Maui Innovation Group, led […]