coronavirus updates

Updated: 5/18/2020, 1:17 p.m.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations has processed about 70 percent of the COVID-19-related claims filed through yesterday, leaving another 30 percent or 69,203 claims pending.

The state paid out $319.4 million between May 1 and May 15, the department reported today. 

Applicants continue to file for unemployment benefits, with claims from last week numbering 154,680.

Updated: 5/17/2020, 11:56 a.m.

Where we stand

Hawaii recorded one new coronavirus cases today, continuing a run of days with zero or few cases, spurring the moves to reopen the economy.

The state health department reported the number of recorded cases is at 640 and deaths stand at 17. The case count for Oahu is at 415, Maui County at 117, Hawaii Island at 77 and Kauai County at 21. There are 10 cases diagnosed out of state.

Updated: 5/16/2020, 3:11 p.m.

Where we stand

Hawaii recorded two new coronavirus cases yesterday, continuing a run of days with zero or few cases, spurring the moves to reopen the economy.

Updated: 5/15/2020; 8:11 p.m.

City to open beaches with restrictions on gatherings 

Starting tomorrow, beaches and sand bars within the city will be open for activities beyond exercising, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced today. The easing of restrictions followed approval by Gov. David Ige.

Updated: 5/14/2020, 5 p.m.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said today he’s inclined to extend his “safer-at-home” order through the end of June to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Updated: 5/13/2020, 1:50 p.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Hawaii recorded three new coronavirus cases today. The state health department reported that the count is now at 638 and the deaths stand at 17. Oahu cases are at 414, Maui County at 117, Hawaii Island at 75 and Kauai County at 21. There are 11 cases diagnosed out of state.

City budget with $133M shortfall covered advances

Updated: 5/12/2020, 12:12 p.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Hawaii recorded one new coronavirus cases today. The state health department reported that the count is now at 635 and the deaths stand at 17. Oahu cases are at 411, Maui County at 117, Hawaii Island at 75 and Kauai County at 21. There are 11 cases diagnosed out of state.

Legislators detail how they propose to make up $1B budget shortfall

Updated: 5/11/2020, 1:10 p.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Hawaii recorded two new coronavirus cases today. The state health department reported that the count is now at 634 and the deaths stand at 17. Oahu cases are at 410, Maui County at 117, Hawaii Island at 75 and Kauai County at 21. There are 11 cases diagnosed out of state.

Visitors arrivals up almost 250 yesterday

Update: 5/10/2020, 12:26 p.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Hawaii reported one new coronavirus case today. The state health department reported that the count is now at 632 and the deaths stand at 17. Oahu cases are at 408, Maui County at 117, Hawaii Island at 75 and Kauai County at 21. There are 11 cases diagnosed out of state.

Updated: 5/9/2020, 12:09 p.m.

Hawaii reported three new cases of the coronavirus today, erasing hopes that yesterday's zero cases would prove a trend. 

Updated: 5/8/2020, 12:08 p.m.

Hawaii reported no new cases of the coronavirus today, the first time in two months since additional cases began dropping to single digits. The health department reported today that the count remains at 629 and the death roll stands at 17. 

Updated: 5/7/2020, 12:06 p.m.

Hawaii legislative leaders announced today that lawmakers will convene on Monday to deal with a projected $1 billion budget shortfall in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Updated: 5/6/2020, 11:56 a.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Hawaii has one additional coronavirus case, the state health department reported today. The death toll stands at 17. 

Hawaii has seen single-digit increases in daily cases for over the past two weeks, continuing a "flattening of the curve" that is spurring the reopening of the state. 

Oahu's case count is now at 405, Maui County at 116, Hawaii County at 74, and Kauai at 21. Ten were diagnosed out of state.

Oahu, Maui Delay Reopenings of Retailers, Malls

Updated: 5/5/20, 12:12 p.m.

Retailers including shopping malls that can maintain social distancing for employees and customers can reopen beginning after midnight on Thursday, Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced today. The governor said, however, that officials expect cases of the coronavirus  will increase as more people leave their homes to visit the newly opened businesses.

Updated: 5/4/2020, 12:53 p.m

The University of Hawaii plans to resume in-person classes on August 24 on all 10 campuses, President David Lassner said in an email to faculty and others in the university community.

"We all realize that the fall will absolutely not be a return to business as usual," Lassner said. "Rather, UH will deploy a COVID19-aware safe approach to providing high-quality education throughout the state for new and returning students at this very time when they and our State need higher education more than ever."

Updated: 5/3/2020, 12:03 p.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Health officials today reported another coronavirus-related death at Maui Memorial Medical Center, bringing the state's death toll to 17. The Maui woman had been at the hospital since late February and became infected in mid-April.

Updated: 5/2/2020, 12:13 p.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Health officials reported one new case of the coronavirus today, the second day running of a single additional case and continuing a trend of single-digit increases in recent days that is spurring efforts to reopen the state. Hawaii's case count is at 620. Deaths stand at 16.

Updated: 4/30/2020, 12:11 p.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Health officials reported five new cases of the coronavirus today, continuing a trend of single-digit increases in recent days that is spurring efforts to reopen the state. Hawaii's case count is at 618. Deaths stand at 16.

Updated: 4/29/2020, 11:58 a.m.

Where Hawaii stands

Health officials reported four new cases of the coronavirus today, continuing a trend of single-digit increases in recent days that is spurring efforts to reopen the state. Hawaii's case count is at 613. Deaths stand at 16.

Updated: 4/28/2020, 6:46 p.m.

Health officials reported two new cases of the coronavirus today, continuing a trend of single-digit increases in recent days that is spurring efforts to reopen the state. Hawaii's case count is at 609. Deaths stand at 16.

Updated: 4/27/2020, 3:33 p.m.

The state Department of Health reported a 16th death today and the case count rose by just one case. The latest death is an Oahu woman over 65 who had underlying medical conditions and had been hospitalized since early April. The department is looking into whether the case involves travel or is the result of community spread. Hawaii's case count stands today at 607.

Updated: 4/26/2020, 1:30 p.m.

Kauai County plans to take its first steps loosening coronavirus-related restrictions on May 3, Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said in his daily video briefing today.

Updated: 4/25/2020; 3:31 p.m.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige today extended his mandatory 14-day quarantine and stay-at-home orders through May 31, saying the state is not out of the woods yet.

He says information on utilization of the hospitals and equipment such as ventilators will factor into when he will lift the orders rather than any specific timeline. He said the state will take a phased approach in reopening 

Updated: 4/24/2020, 12:06 p.m.

Two more coronavirus-related deaths bring the total for the state to 14 today. The state case count grew to 601, with 5 new ones, according the state Department of Health's latest update. 

Updated: 4/23/20, 2:50 p.m.

The city and state Department of Health are sparring over Mayor Kirk Caldwell's plans to expand testing on Oahu through seven community health centers. The department warned the city in a letter that the tests the city plans to use at a cost of $2 million have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but the city says FDA approval is not required and that other jurisdictions, including the city of Los Angeles, have been using the tests with no concerns.

Bank of Hawaii Corp. has announced it set aside $33.6 million to cover potential loan losses tied to the coronavirus pandemic.

Updated: 4/22/2020, 12:24 p.m.

Six new coronavirus cases brings the state's total today to 592, according to the state Department of Health's latest update. The number of deaths stands at 12 since tracking began in late February.

Oahu case count is now 388, Maui County 110, Hawaii Island 67, and Kauai 21. No cases are pending determination of county and six were diagnosed out of state.

Updated: 4/20/2020, 7:25 p.m.

The state expects its unemployment insurance fund to run out and is seeking to replenish it, possibly with a federal loan. 

Updated: 4/18/2020, 6:38 p.m.

The state's confirmed and presumed positive coronavirus cases number 574 today, up 21 from the previous day, according to the state Department of Health's latest daily update. The death count stands at nine. Most of the new cases resulted from a cluster at McDonald's restaurants in Kona on the Big Island.

Updated: 4/17/2020, 3:52 p.m.

Hawaii's public schools will be closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year and will be administering classwork via online and physical work packets, the state Department of Education announced today.