Despite a recent surge in cases partly from the Omicron variant, the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) announced today that it would end operations of all state-operated quarantine facilities on Dec. 31, 2021. The quarantine facility closures follow a Nov. 29 emergency proclamation from Gov. David Ige that directs counties to oversee emergency … Read more
Senator Joy San Buenaventura (D – Puna), is the chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services, which oversees public assistance programs, youth services, long term care, and homelessness services in Hawaii. She is also a member of the Senate Committee on Health and is slated to speak at the upcoming 2022 Hawaii State of … Read more
When it comes to the COVID-19 Omicron variant, Lieutenant Governor Josh Green says the state will maintain its current vaccine and restriction protocols, but remain watchful as new research emerges. The Hawaii Department of Health confirmed the first case of the variant in the state on Thursday, and has since announced two additional cases on … Read more
State leaders are having more conversations about reopening Hawaii as residents continue to get vaccinated, but others say more should be done to assess the pandemic’s physical, economic, and social impact on Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat held a virtual conversation with three panelists on Tuesday to foster dialogue around the issue. Dr. Gerard … Read more
With the federal public health emergency (PHE) declaration and subsequent Medicaid disenrollment freeze set to end as soon as mid-January 2022, Med-QUEST is working to ensure the one in three Hawaii residents it serves will receive continuous health coverage. Med-QUEST enrollments have increased 32% over the pandemic, bringing total enrollment to about 450,000 … Read more
Jill Tokuda, former chair of the Hawaii Senate Ways And Means Committee, announced her bid for Lieutenant Governor earlier this month. This marks her second time running for the office after coming in second behind current Lt. Gov. Josh Green in 2018. Green is expected to run for Governor in 2022. In this Q&A, Tokuda … Read more
Hawaii Department of Health state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble set the record straight Wednesday on how the Delta variant and COVID-19 vaccines affect Hawaii’s keiki, especially as kids return to in-person learning. Dr. Natasha Ching, a pediatric disease specialist at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, joined Dr. Kemble during a panel discussion, hosted … Read more
Hawaii may be at a turning point in its COVID-19 response plan, and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi urged state leaders to take an “aggressive” approach in safely reopening the state. On Tuesday, members of the Hawaii House Covid-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness Committee discussed the delicate balance of reopening the state to achieve economic stability, … Read more
The COVID-19 case surge from the Delta variant has kept Hawaii weeks away from reaching a “crisis point.” Leaders from the Department of Health and Healthcare Association of Hawaii said the state is relying on resources from the mainland, such as oxygen tanks and additional health care personnel, to keep up with cases. … Read more
Heather Lusk is the executive director of the Hawai‘i Health and Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC). HHHRC has stayed open throughout the pandemic, serving communities at the intersection of houselessness, chronic diseases such as HIV, and behavioral health and substance use. In this Q&A, Lusk speaks on how HHHRC was able to pivot its services to … Read more