Lanai had four hospitalizations in cluster

Out of the 106-case COVID-19 cluster on Lanai, there were four people who needed hospitalization, according to the state COVID-19 Joint Information Center.

The JIC said this week that the cluster that was discovered and grew in October “has been contained.” There were no cases on Lanai until the outbreak.

As for the cause of the cluster, the JIC said it was unable to make a determination. Based on the investigation, the outbreak may have been the result of travel and a returning resident introducing the virus to the community.

On Thursday, restrictions on Lanai were relaxed a bit, as the island’s status moved from stay-at-home to safer-at-home. The island had been under the strictest stay-at-home levels from Oct. 27 as cases rose.

With the easing of restrictions, residents and visitors are encouraged to still stay at their residence or place of lodging, especially if health-compromised, but may leave to conduct essential activities and government functions and patronize or operate essential and certain nonessential business, county officials have said. Outdoor activities are permitted, such as walking, ocean sports and hiking, and residents are allowed to care for family members, minors and those with disabilities.

And beginning Monday, Bank of Hawaii on Lanai is returning to normal hours. The special hour for kupuna, at-risk individuals and their caregivers will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday. General banking hours are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

In other COVID-19 matters, Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino noted that two days this week, Maui island saw six new cases. He said those cases were travel related and not so much “in the community.”

Still, he advised caution. Responding to a media question, the mayor said that the county has not “seen a major uptick” in cases from Halloween celebrations.

County officials said that as of Wednesday there were almost 2,500 non-Hawaii residents participating in the county’s voluntary testing program, where visitors who already tested negative in the state’s initial screening opt for another COVID-19 test while on island.

Out of that total, 10 have had positive results, or 0.4 percent.

Fifty-five percent taking the test were female and 45 percent were male. By age, the largest percentage group taking the additional test were between 51 to 60 years old or 22 percent; followed by the 31- to 40-year-old group at 19 percent; 61- to 70-year-old group with 19 percent; the 21- to 30year-old group with 13 percent and the 41- to 50-year-old group with 13 percent.

Individuals from 36 states including Hawaii and the District of Columbia have participated in the program. California has the most participants of non-Hawaii participants with 41 percent; followed by Washington state at 16 percent and New York with 8 percent.

Maui County has formed a partnership with Molokai General Hospital to offer free voluntary secondary testing for trans-Pacific travelers. To schedule an appointment call Dr. Paul G. Stevens at the Outpatient Clinic at (808) 5533121.

With the holidays approaching, Victorino said the county and Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang would like for people not to gather in large groups. But “we know people are going to do it. We are going to ask you to do it safely,” the mayor said.

He asked holiday gatherers to wear a mask, social distance and if “at all possible, do it outside.” Victorino suggested the gatherings be in a backyard or driveway. If indoors, open windows and sliding doors, he said.

Also beginning this week, the state Department of Health will be releasing weekly COVID-19 cluster reports to illustrate COVID-19 trends across the state.

It highlights recent COVID19 incidents in the same geographic location or among people with the same or similar shared exposure.

In the state weekly cluster report released Thursday, Maui County saw one cluster with six cases in the last 14 days by exposure setting. There was no additional information.

Public health officials study disease clusters to identify risk factors, design intervention strategies, and prevent further infection, according to a news release.

A new cluster report will be posted every Thursday on the DOH website at health.hawaii .gov/coronavirusdisease2019/.

Daily updates of COVID-19 will appear at noon at hawaii covid19.com.

There also will be no Sunday COVID-19 updates, the Health Department said. The additional time gives DOH and its partners a more sustainable data timeline and allows for greater accuracy in reporting COVID-19 statistics.

It also makes Hawaii’s data timeline more consistent with those of other states, counties and municipalities across the country.