Hawai´i County Official Positive For COVID-19, Contact Tracing to Begin ‘Promptly’

Contact tracing has begun among the ranks of the Hawai´i County Mayor’s Office following a county official testing positive for COVID-19.

The name of the individual who tested positive was not released due to federal and state laws that protect the right to medical privacy.

Other county officials have been alerted of the positive result. A press release from the county indicated that the Roth Administration is working with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health and the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency to address the issue.

“The administration has been practicing all proper social distancing protocols and procedures related to COVID-19 and will update residents if further positive cases ensue,” the county said in its release.

The Department of Health and Civil Defense Agency will begin contact tracing and notifying individuals who have had close contact with the county official. Employees nearest the official will be tested, and those with extended close contact with the official will begin quarantining effective immediately, the county said.