jch636

Looks like a booster will soon be required for the "fully vaccinated" quarantine exemption under Safe Travels. No firm date announced, but the change or announcement of the change is at least two weeks away.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2022/0...n-be-required/

747FC

Thanks for posting. Always great when a source is cited so we can separate out good info from wild ramblings.

azepine00

we know that US is running in parallel or just a bit behind and numbers on HI are already beyond any containment considerations - they really should be focusing on minimizing impact on the islands (eg boosters to local population, hospital short term extra capacity, supplies, national guard, plans for short term infrastructure support etc etc) and not on pointless tourism related prevention..
good news this will be short term and we'll all have superimmunity aftewards so better book any deals for summer and holidays now..
but first off to buy more toilet paper to weather omicrocalypse...

COSPILOT

Almost 6,000 new cases reported, a new but unfortunate record.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/app/20...-6-fatalities/

Weyland Yutani Corp

"There were also 50 people diagnosed out of state."

As in...Hawaiians in other states, or travelers in Hawaii?

DELee

Hawaiians out of state.

David

Weatherboy

The DOH said the 6k figure is also too low and that there's another backlog of reporting, so the number is thousands of people higher.

Sunday which is usually a quiet day will probably have a shockingly high number as the reporting catches up to the results.

747FC

Thanks for the link. It is great when posters provide a citation.

ERtraveler

Going to Big Island on 1/25. It feels like going into the belly of the beast!

Weyland Yutani Corp

That depends on where you are traveling from. I’ve been in Kauai for a week…gladly away from Southern California.

Weyland Yutani Corp

This prediction doesn’t look like it panned out.

ERtraveler

Bay Area - San Mateo Co. to be precise. Definitely a surge here too but the population is highly vaccinated.

LIH Prem

Not a lot of faith the numbers right now, if you've been following the news. Particularly the positivity rates, because they stopped counting negative tests for now.

All of that should be cited anywhere you're seeing these numbers. If not, find another, more reliable source.

-David

mtofell

This strain is just everywhere. I'm on Maui and there are entire groups of people I know/am familiar with have come down with it. Most have little or no symptoms so I suspect A LOT more people are walking around with Omicron than are even aware (or are showing up in test numbers). At some point it seems containment measures are pointless but I'm sure that is a controversial opinion.

Weatherboy

State is still unable to report all positive cases:

DOH Message On Case Counts
From the Hawaiʻi Department of Health:

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) will temporarily stop reporting specific data sets on Sunday, January 16 so its data collection and reporting system can continue to accurately process the thousands of positive tests recorded at laboratories daily.

DOH systems have not been able to process the large volume of positive and negative cases in recent days. As a result, thousands of cases, both positive and negative, have not been reported.

In order to expedite the processing and reporting of positive cases, DOH will suspend the processing of negative cases. This will allow for accurate positive case counts.

All tests, both positive and negative, must be processed in order to ascertain positivity rates and produce certain data sets. Therefore, positivity rates and some data sets will not be available while DOH assesses alternative ways to accurately report on both positive case counts and percent positivity regardless of testing volume.

Record COVID-19 case counts in recent weeks are also necessitating a change in case investigation. Contact tracers simply cannot keep pace with the large number of COVID-19 cases.

Contact tracers are focusing their attention on priority groups including COVID-19 clusters associated with schools and high-risk settings such as long-term care facilities.

“We have reported roughly 48,000 COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks. It would be unrealistic to think our 378 contact tracers could get in touch with all those people. So, we are focusing on providing general and setting-specific guidance, and on cluster investigations that will help protect vulnerable populations,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble.

“The number of cases Hawai‘i is experiencing is unprecedented, leading to a tremendous demand for testing. As testing data flows through the electronic reporting system, the system is stressed. Our essential DOH employees are also wrestling with tremendous challenges. We must adapt to address these circumstances,” said Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char, FACEP.

“Everyone can be part of the solution. Wear well-fitting masks. Don’t take them off near anyone from outside your household. Avoid large crowds. And if you have COVID symptoms or think you have been exposed, isolate yourself immediately. Isolating yourself to slow transmission is absolutely necessary,” Char added