Big Island Coronavirus Updates

Premier Medical Group Hawai‘i has planned its first neighbor-island pop-up COVID 19 drive-thru screening clinic in Kona after a successful event in Kaneohe on March 15.

The first known case of COVID-19 inside the Hawai‘i State Capitol building was announced Thursday afternoon. 

Several Hawai‘i Island grocery stores have designated hours set up for kūpuna shopping (individuals 60 or older) as concern over the COVID-19 pandemic persist.

There are six new cases of COVID-19 in Hawai‘i as of Thursday at noon, according to the state Department of Health. 

On Wednesday, the company announced it is continuing to refine petroleum products, including jet fuel, gasoline, diesel, utility fuels and ship fuel, and is distributing these transportation fuels statewide.

Jury and non-jury proceedings in the 3rd Circuit Court have been rescheduled until after April 30 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,

Several businesses on the Big Island have already shut down temporarily of their own volition. The DLNR has also closed several state parks on the Big Island indefinitely.

There is no evidence of community spread in Hawai‘i at this time, DOH added in its release, contradicting media reports that one of the state’s cases had been the result of community spread. 

UH President David Lassner sent an email to faculty just before noon on Wednesday outlining that all classes will move to online-only instruction by Monday, March 23. 

Foggers filled with a bleach mixture, and potentially other disinfectants, will be deployed multiple times a day.

Ninety-four local doctors and health professionals urged Gov. David Ige to immediately take more decisive action to limit the spread of COVID-19.

There have now been 10 confirmed or presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 on O‘ahu, three on Maui, two on Kaua‘i and one on the Big Island.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) will close its offices except for essential functions effective March 19.

Hawaiian Electric will suspend service disconnections for 30 days so customers financially challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic don’t have to worry about losing service.

Kamehameha Schools will begin distance learning when classes resume after spring break in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Waimea Urgent Care has tentatively closed until April 1 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its spread.

If there is business/area closure or canceled event you wish to advise the public about, email editor@bigislandnow.com.

Ige said all essential services will be supported by the government to make sure they continue to operate. The administration is also working to halt evictions and foreclosures, as well as make sure employees keep benefits even if they can’t work.

There will likely be people at testing sites who are positive for COVID-19, meaning residents taking it upon themselves to walk into a testing site will not only fail to achieve their objectives, but they will put themselves and other members of the public at risk. 

The Hawai‘i Department of Health now lists on its website one presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Hawai‘i County.