Senate President Ron Kouchi and Speaker Scott Saiki issued the following statement in response to Governor Ige's proposal to impose a 20% reduction in state employee salaries: Although Governor Ige has the unilateral authority to impose furloughs and salary cuts, we do not agree with such action. We urge the Governor to obtain better data and analysis before he makes this decision. We also urge him to act on all alternatives, just as the National Governors Association did when it called on Congress four days ago to provide an additional $500 billion to the 50 states to stabilize state budgets due to tax revenue shortfalls. Although we disagree with Governor Ige's proposal, the Legislature will work with him to assess and pursue all options.

Hale Makua Health Services received word from the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) that one Home Health patient has tested COVID-19 positive, and that one of six of our nursing home residents who were potentially exposed to COVID-19 during their stay at MMMC prior to being admitted to Hale Makua has tested positive. The nursing home resident who tested positive for COVID-19 received a negative test result on April 9, 2020. Because this individual was treated on the MMMC unit with the COVID-19 positive cluster of workers, the resident was re-tested on April 13, 2020, which resulted in the current positive received today, April 15, 2020. The resident is currently asymptomatic and in isolation. On April 11, 2020, Hale Makua Health Services was notified by DOH that six nursing home residents were potentially exposed to COVID-19. Since then the resident noted above had a second test administered, which came back positive. The five other nursing home residents recently admitted from MMMC tested negative, have been in isolation since April 12, 2020, are being retested for COVID-19, and are currently asymptomatic. As per DOH’s recommendation, all of these residents have been moved to a separate wing for 14-day quarantine in private rooms with droplet precautions. All residents and staff who may have been exposed will be tested for COVID-19. Home Health by Hale Makua is caring for its first positive COVID-19 patient. This patient presented with symptoms of COVID-19 after being discharged from the hospital, and was under observation by the DOH until being released from isolation on April 14, 2020. Out of an abundance of caution, all employees who had any contact with the patient are also self-isolating and have been tested for COVID-19. “Our goal is always to ensure that we protect the health and safety of all those in our care so that we may continue providing services in the most appropriate care setting for our kupuna. We stands beside our employees, residents, patients and community members, to provide support and guidance in any way we can. We have already implemented many measures to ensure the safety and protection of all those in our care.” states Hale Makua Health Services CEO, Wesley Lo. At Hale Makua nursing home and adult residential care home precautions include: · Staff and vendors screened for respiratory symptoms and/or fever prior to entering the campuses since early March. · All new admissions have been admitted to West neighborhood in Kahului since March 23. · All employees have been required to wear face masks since April 2. · All employees providing care to residents who may have been exposed to COVID-19 have been following appropriate PPE protocols since April 11, when the organization was notified by DOH of potential COVID-19 exposure. · Visitors have been prohibited, except in certain circumstances deemed appropriate by an Administrator. Creative ways to keep residents in touch with loved ones have been implemented. · Employees who work in other healthcare settings are temperature checked at the start and end of shift, in addition to wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout their shift at Hale Makua. · High touch surfaces are wiped down frequently. Home Health by Hale Makua, precautionary measures to keep patients healthy, safe, and out of the hospital include: · Continuing to provide education to staff and patients about preventative measures like social distancing, proper hand hygiene, and cleaning and disinfection protocols. · Conducting staff meetings remotely instead of in person · Increasing the use of teleworking among staff · Providing increased support to our patients and families by telephone or telehealth calls. · Preadmission screening protocols · Staff screening protocols · Pre-visit screening protocols for the entire household · Pandemic visit protocols, to include limiting nonessential persons from the visit, source control, distancing, and appropriate use of PPE. · Training our staff to provide COVID-19 specific education to all high risk patients and household members. Mr. Lo concludes, “I would like to give a heartfelt ‘thanks’ our dedicated employees who have gone above and beyond to meet the challenges of this crisis, and are the heart of our workforce. Because of them we are doing all that we can to fight COVID-19, and protect our residents, patients and each other. We are stronger together. And together we will get through this crisis, helping each other and our Maui community.” About Hale Makua Health Services Hale Makua Health Services is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, established in 1946 to provide a home for elders who had no one to care for them or means to pay for care. It is one of Maui’s largest non-government employers with over 450 employees providing care for over 1,500 individuals on Maui annually. The organization’s continuum of healthcare programs include two nursing homes and rehab centers specializing in both in and out-patient physical, occupational and speech therapies; a home health care agency; an adult day health center; and an adult residential care home. For more information visit HaleMakua.org.

Traditional commencement ceremonies at public and charter schools will be replaced with alternative celebrations for the class of 2020 due to safety concerns and social distancing guidance. Schools will honor their seniors through different models of celebrations, which will be announced next week. With the end of the school year approaching, the Department continues to work closely with school leaders to make important decisions that prioritize the health and safety of our students, staff, families and the broader community. After much consideration and discussion, it was determined that traditional commencement ceremonies at public and charter schools will be replaced with alternative celebrations for the class of 2020 due to safety concerns and social distancing guidance. Schools will honor their seniors through different models of celebrations, which will be announced next week. “Graduation is considered a major milestone in any academic journey. In Hawaii these celebrations are uniquely special with a long-standing tradition of families coming together to celebrate, giving towering amounts of lei, and enjoying each other’s company — something we are all missing during this time,” Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto said. “The Department has faced tough decisions throughout this unprecedented situation, especially around commencement ceremonies. We’ve looked for innovative solutions to support and celebrate our seniors who deserve this recognition.” Source: http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/MediaRoom/PressReleases/Pages/Alternative-graduation-honors-planned-in-lieu-of-traditional-commencement-ceremonies.aspx

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today signed Emergency Order No. 2020-07 mandating O‘ahu residents wear non-medical grade face coverings while in public to further limit the transmission and spread of coronavirus. According to the Order, employees who work at Essential Businesses as provided in the Stay at Home Order, shall wear non-medical grade face coverings over their noses and mouths when engaged and interacting with customers and visitors of the Essential Business. All customers and visitors of Essential Businesses must also wear non-medical grade face coverings to provide additional protection for employees and customers of Essential Businesses. This Order also applies to passengers and users of public modes of transportation like the TheBus and TheHandi-van. An owner or operator of an Essential Business may refuse admission or service to an individual who fails to wear face coverings. Exemptions to this face covering Order include: · Within banks, financial institutions, or using an automated teller machine (ATM) where inability to verify the identity of the customer or visitor of the bank, financial institution or ATM poses a security risk; · By individuals with medical conditions or disabilities where wearing of a face covering may pose a health or safety risk to the individual; · By children under the age of 5; · By first responders (Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Emergency Services Department) to the extent that wearing non-medical grade face coverings may impair or impede the safety of the first responders in the performance of his/her duty. “Wearing a non-medical face covering has become a simple and extremely valuable tool in slowing the spread of this virus and preventing those who have COVID-19 but don’t know it from spreading it to others,” said Mayor Caldwell. “While wearing a face covering is not a substitute for social distancing, it can help at Essential Businesses where Social Distancing Requirements may at times be difficult to maintain, like paying for groceries or picking up medication at the pharmacy.” This Order is effective at 12 a.m on Monday, April 20 and will continue through 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30. Violation of this Order is punishable as a misdemeanor, with fines up to $5,000, up to a year in jail, or both. All individuals in the City are encouraged, but not required, to wear non-medical grade face coverings over their noses and mouths when they are outside their homes and performing Essential Activities, as provided in the Stay at Home Order. For questions on the Order, O‘ahu residents are encouraged to visit the website, oneoahu.org to get answers to frequently asked questions. If they do not find an answer to their questions on the site, residents can call the 768-CITY (2489) information hotline or email covidresponse@honolulu.gov. The City’s COVID-19 information call center remains open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for holidays.

The special committee will convene tomorrow afternoon to assess and advise the Senate regarding the State of Hawaii's COVID-19 plans and procedures to include, but not limited to: Confirm the development of the state departmental plans and procedures; Review and assess current state departmental plans and procedures; Review and assess whether state departmental plans and procedures are properly and timely implemented to safeguard public health and safety; and To communicate and disseminate information obtained therefrom. The special committee will be meeting with the following: 3:00 p.m.               Hawaii Emergency Management Agency MG Kenneth Hara, Incident Commander Please note that there may be committee members or invited speakers participating remotely via video or teleconference. The meeting will be available for live viewing on ‘Olelo Channel 49 on O‘ahu as well as live streaming online at [olelo.org/49]olelo.org/49. No public testimony will be accepted. If you require special assistance, please call 586-6800 or email your request to waysandmeans@capitol.hawaii.gov.

The City’s island-wide nighttime curfew went into effect this past Easter weekend. Overall, the public complied with the curfew on a holiday weekend, which is normally a time for gatherings with family and friends. Over the three nights, the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) handed out close to 150 citations. These violations were not connected to violating the Curfew Order, rather for traffic violations and other crimes. The City has no plans to continue a nighttime curfew at this time given that the next holiday weekend is in late May. The three-day pilot project made all non-essential wheeled means of transportation prohibited from the hours of 11 p.m to 5 a.m daily from Friday, April 10, to Monday, April 13. Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s Emergency Order No. 2020-05 further re-enforced the Stay at Home Order intended to stop the spread of COVID-19 on Oʻahu. “I’m very proud of the way our community responded”, said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “Your decision to stay at home this weekend could end up being the difference in how successful we are at containing this virus and how soon we can back to normal.” Although the Nighttime Curfew Order is not being extended at this time the Mayor’s Stay at Home Order remains in effect. O‘ahu residents are encouraged to visit the website, oneoahu.org to get answers to frequently asked questions about Mayor Caldwell’s Stay at Home Order. If they do not find an answer to their questions on the site, residents can call the 768-CITY (2489) information hotline or email covidresponse@honolulu.gov. The City and County of Honolulu COVID-19 information call center remains open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for holidays.

Senator Kaiali‘i “Kai” Kahele (D-Hilo) voluntarily answered the call to state active duty this morning as a member of the Hawai‘i National Guard’s COVID-19 Joint Task Force response. Senator Kahele is a lieutenant colonel with the Hawai‘i Air National Guard. His active duty start date is Tuesday, April 14, and is scheduled to end on Thursday, May 14. “The State’s urgent response to COVID-19 requires all hands-on deck. The Hawaiʻi National Guard has given so much to me during my last 19 years of service. I am proud to answer the call along with my fellow Hawai‘i airmen and soldiers to help our community respond swiftly to this health pandemic,” said Senator Kahele. A highly decorated officer and combat veteran, Senator Kahele will contribute to air operations planning and delivery of essential personnel and food, medical supplies, and equipment should they be needed throughout the State of Hawaiʻi. Senator Kahele’s legislative staff will continue to serve the residents of Senate District 1, the greater Hilo area on Hawai‘i Island, while he is on state active duty. Constituents may continue to direct their inquiries to senkkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov and staff will respond as they work remotely during this time.

To support continued learning during the extended school closure period, the Department’s Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design created and launched two resources: an internal website for schools and teachers and an external website for students, parents and caregivers. Parents and caregivers Features tips and tools to help parents navigate and support continuous learning for students, including resources to supplement distance learning provided by schools. Schools and teachers (k12.hi.us email required for access) Features resources for teachers to use for offline or online remote learning, or a combination of both. It also provides guidance for complex area support in developing distance learning plans based on classes and demographics. At-home learning "choice boards" (Updated weekly) Both sites include at-home learning “choice boards” by grade level for students in pre-kindergarten through high school. These enrichment activities are aligned to grade-level content areas, beginning with English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. The Department anticipates adding the following content areas: computer science, world languages, fine arts, physical education and health. The choice boards, updated weekly by OCID content area specialists, include digital activities along with offline activities that do not require access to the internet; but parents do need internet to access the site. Sign-up to receive notifications when new choice boards are released. HIDOE COVID-19 Information and Updates The Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) is working closely with the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) on guidance for our students, teachers, parents and staff to prepare for and prevent the possible arrival of the COVID-19 disease at school campuses. Please refer to the department's website for updated information. https://sites.google.com/k12.hi.us/resources-student-parent/home?authuser=0

Hawai‘i COVID-19 Cases Exceed 500 – Only Five in Latest Report The number of positive COVID-19 cases across the state now stands at 504. However, the latest report shows one of the lowest numbers of new infections in several weeks, at five (5) adults. DOH cautions not to read too much into the low number of cases, as it is likely a reflection of the rate of test reporting over the weekend. O‘ahu had two (2) cases, Hawai‘i Island had one (1) new case, and Maui had two (2) cases. None of the cases is hospitalized at this time. Update on Maui Memorial Medical Center As of last night, 34 people at Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) had tested positive for COVID-19. This includes two (2) healthcare workers and one (1) patient. DOH is including all persons identified as positive within the time period of concern, so the total number does include some cases who represent separate introductions or those with no identified association with other cases at MMMC during the time period of focus. MMMC and DOH continue notifying any patients who may have had care at MMMC, but have since been released or discharged. Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center: Physical Distancing Posters and Infographics Available in 12 Languages or Dialects “Physical Distancing,” and “Social Distancing” have become among the most common of phrases uttered during the current COVID-19 pandemic, as people around the globe are encouraged to maintain at least six-feet separation from one another. The Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center, in collaboration with the Hawai‘i Dept. of Health’s Office of Language Access, and Anthology Marketing Group and with funding from the visitor industry have created a bank of various sized, printable posters and infographics for businesses, media, and individuals to download for free. All of the posters are translated into ten different languages. The infographics, which can be used for social media, are in English, Hawaiian and Japanese. State agencies are being encouraged to post the graphics on departmental websites and social media platforms and for media organizations to use in print, on-air, and on their various digital platforms. Graphics sized for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are available. Poster languages/dialects are: Chuukese Hawaiian Ilocano Japanese Korean Marshallese Samoan Simplified Chinese Tagalog Traditional Chinese Spanish Vietnamese Full color posters (8.5×11 vertical, 11×8.5 horizontal, 11×17 vertical, 17×11 horizontal): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hxrw6r9wl9hqfjp/AADsTo0FBLI_ol3ol5yUQD4ba?dl=0 Infographics: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wubwnxooahmeclv/AACsVpSBkK3BzNsGCWVxwK5ka?dl=0 Department of Transportation: Pacific Princess Cruise Ship Arrives in Hawaii The Pacific Princess cruise ship moored at Honolulu Harbor this morning at 7:30. Four people from O‘ahu were the only ones allowed to disembark the ship but were medically screened before leaving and found to be asymptomatic. They went straight to their homes on private shuttles with a DOT Harbor Police escort to begin their 14-day quarantine. The ship was last at port in Melbourne, Australia on March 28, but no passengers or crew were allowed to disembark at that time either. The ship is scheduled to leave Hawai‘i for its final destination in California this afternoon – after it finishes refueling and loading provisions. Hawai‘i Tourism Authority: On Easter Sunday 543 people arrived at Hawai‘i airports, including 91 visitors and 132 residents. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out-of-state and does not include interisland travel. https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4439/041320-passenger-count-press-release.pdf Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism: Department of Land and Natural Resources: All Offshore Islets And Ahu O Laka Sandbar Now Closed Due To COVID-19 “Blatant disrespect,” by some people over the Easter Weekend three-day holiday has led to the immediate closing of all Hawai‘i Offshore Islets, which are all State Wildlife Sanctuaries. This includes the popular Mokulua Islets off of Kailua and Lanikai beaches. In addition, the Ahu o Laka (Kaneohe sandbar), is also closing immediately. DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Officers (DOCARE) report the disregard for stay-at-home mandates and physical distancing measures over the weekend. Officers issued 20 warnings to boaters at the He’eia Kea Small Boat Harbor on Easter Sunday for violations of the stay-at-home order. DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said, “Our officers observed dozens of people congregating in close-proximity at Ahu o Laka. These dismissive behaviors are unfortunate and unhealthy and is what led to closing the sandbar under Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) relating to the closure of State Wildlife Sanctuaries.” The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) is closing the He’eia Kea Small Boat Harbor ramp and all trailer parking spaces tomorrow, April 14. Similar activity was observed on Mokulua North or Moku Nui Islet, a popular destination for kayakers. All of the offshore islets fall under the jurisdiction of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). DLNR Chair Suzanne Case added, “During this COVID-19 crisis we want people to be able to exercise outdoors individually, but not to party and socialize outdoors which they can do at home by phone or online. We realize these extraordinary steps might overtax other public outdoor resources, but we want everyone to realize that we all have to be very serious about stay-at-home and physical distancing orders. The sooner everyone pays attention to the rules, the quicker life can return to normal, including reopening those places that are normally enjoyed by so many people.” Violations of the Governor’s Emergency Rules are a misdemeanor and punishable by both fines up to $5,000 and imprisonment. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/04/13/nr20-045/ PDF version of this digest is right here: COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 13, 2020 #COVID19 #Coronavirus #DOH #DLNR #DOCARE #HTA

“Blatant disrespect,” by some people over the Easter Weekend three-day holiday has led to the immediate closing of all Hawai‘i Offshore Islets, which are all State Wildlife Sanctuaries. This includes the popular Mokulua Islets off of Kailua and Lanikai beaches.  In addition, the Ahu o Laka (Kaneohe sandbar), is also closing immediately. DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Officers (DOCARE) report blatant disregard for stay-at-home mandates and physical distancing measures over the weekend. Officers issued 20 warnings to boaters at the He’eia Kea Small Boat Harbor on Easter Sunday for violations of the stay-at-home order.  The DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) is closing the He’eia Kea Small Boat Harbor ramp on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla said, “Our officers observed dozens of people congregating in close-proximity at Ahu o Laka. These dismissive behaviors are unfortunate and unhealthy and is what led to closing the sandbar under Hawai‘i Administrative Rules (HAR) relating to the closure of State Wildlife Sanctuaries.” The closed area is detailed in the HAR below. Similar activity was observed on Mokulua North or Moku Nui Islet, a popular destination for kayakers. All of the offshore islets fall under the jurisdiction of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW).  DOFAW Administrator David Smith commented, “We’re all are facing unprecedented times and inconvenience to our daily lives and while we encourage people to get outside and into the fresh air, if some folks can’t self-regulate and practice physical distancing, we have no option but to close all offshore islets and potentially other popular outdoor destinations, like trails.” DLNR Chair Suzanne Case added, “During this COVID-19 crisis we want people to be able to exercise outdoors individually, but not to party and socialize outdoors which they can do at home by phone or online. We realize these extraordinary steps might overtax other public outdoor resources, but we want everyone to realize that we all have to be very serious about stay-at-home and physical distancing orders. The sooner everyone pays attention to the rules, the quicker life can return to normal, including reopening those places that are normally enjoyed by so many people.” Entering a closed wildlife sanctuary is a petty misdemeanor and if convicted is punishable by both fines and imprisonment. Violations of the Governor’s Emergency Rules are a misdemeanor and punishable by both fines up to $5000 and imprisonment. ### Hawai‘i Administrative Rules: §13-256-73.13  Ahu o Laka safety zone.  (a) The Ahu o Laka safety zone is the area encompassed within the boundaries designated as Zone H-2 shown on Exhibit “X-2,” “Ahu o Laka safety zone, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii” dated June 8, 2011, and located at the end of this subchapter.  The boundaries of Zone H-2 are as follows: Beginning at a point in the water at 21°28.462’N 157°49.203’W, then by straight lines drawn to a point at 21°27.9647’N 157°49.140’W, then to 21°27.514’N 157°48.115’W, then to 21°28.030’N 157°47.940’W, then back to the starting point. §13-126-6  Closing of areas. The board (Board of Land and Natural Resources) or its authorized representative may close or restrict the public use of all or any portion of a wildlife sanctuary for up to two years, when deemed necessary by the board for the protection of the biological, geological, or cultural resources of the area or the safety and welfare of persons or property, by the posting of appropriate signs indicating the duration, extent, and scope of closure.  Closures may be renewed with the approval of the board or its authorized representative. DLNR Release here: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/04/13/nr20-045/ #DLNR #covid19 #Coronavirus #HAR #WldlifeSancuaries

Peter K. Kubota confirmed as Third Circuit Judge after Senate review Modified confirmation procedure used due to COVID-19 closures HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – The Hawai‘i State Senate announced the confirmation of Peter K. Kubota as Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit, encompassing Hawai‘i County, effective Sunday, April 12, 2020. Kubota was appointed by Governor David Ige on March 13, 2020, from a list of four candidates recommended by the independent Judicial Selection Commission. His appointment was then transmitted to the Senate for confirmation, which the State Constitution requires be completed in 30 days. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads put Kubota's appointment through the Committee's standard rigorous vetting process that included a review of the judicial application, inquiry into court records and other public documents, and an interview with Kubota. Other Senators also held meetings with Kubota about his pending confirmation. Throughout this review, no disqualifying information was discovered or relayed to the Senate. Under normal circumstances, the next step in the Senate's process would have been to hold a Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination. However, the Senate recessed the 2020 session on March 16 in response to COVID-19, and the Governor has issued a stay-at-home work-from-home order. Therefore, holding an in-person public hearing was not advisable. The Constitution of the State of Hawai‘i language applicable to Senate confirmation of judicial appointments made by the Governor (Article VI, Section 3) reads: “If the Senate fails to reject any appointment within thirty days thereof, it shall be deemed to have given its consent to such appointment.” As Kubota met the requisite qualifications to be confirmed as a Circuit Court judge and the Senate identified no reason to reject the appointment, he was therefore confirmed by operation of the Constitution effective April 12, 2020. “Peter Kubota possesses the desired qualifications for a circuit court judge,” said Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads. “Based on our review, we anticipate that he will be fair and discerning judge.” Judge Peter K. Kubota has served as a per diem District and Family Court Judge in the Third Circuit since 2019. He has had a career in private practice based in Hilo for over twenty years, specializing in estate planning, real property advice and litigation, and business law. He received his law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and earned a B.B.A in Finance at the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa College of Business. #PeterKubota #KarlRhoads #HawaiiSenate #CircuitCourtJudge

Department of Health: Thirteen New Cases of COVID-19 Reported All 13 of the new positive cases reported today are adult Hawai‘i residents bringing the total number of cases since Feb. 28, 2020 to 499 statewide. Overall travel-related cases have decreased markedly, with continued slight increases in community-associated cases. The 9th death was reported yesterday as a female, O‘ahu resident, 65-years of age or older, who had been hospitalized and had underlying medical conditions. Update on Maui Memorial Medical Center COVID-19 Cluster Since mid-March through April 7, fifteen (15) healthcare workers at Maui Memorial Medical Center (MMMC) have been identified as COVID-19 positive by MMMC infection control staff. Four (4) patients are under investigation as potentially linked to this cluster. Since April 8 an additional 90 healthcare personnel and 36 patients have been tested. Some results are pending, but an additional seven (7) staff and five (5) patients have tested positive, bringing the total number of people (healthcare workers and patients) under investigation to 31 as of yesterday. By tomorrow the hospital will have notified 194 patients who received care at MMMC by affected healthcare workers. DOH is assisting with telephone outreach and testing of impacted patients and healthcare providers is ongoing. Rely Only on Official Information, Even When It Looks Official The discovery of an official looking warning poster, put up in West O‘ahu, prompts a reminder that people should check with official sources like the Dept. of Health or the Hawai‘i COVID-19 Joint Information Center to determine whether any posted information is accurate. People should refrain from creating any type of “official” seeming posters, pamphlets, documents, or social media posts as they can mislead people. Free Downloadable Physical Distancing Posters & Infographics Free, downloadable, multi-lingual, physical distancing posters and infographics for posting and social media use are available. Languages featured are English with Hawaiian, Japanese, Tagalog, Ilocano, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Samoan, Vietnamese, Marshallese and Chuckese. Businesses and individuals are welcome and encouraged to post these widely. Please continue to practice good physical distancing measures this Easter holiday weekend. Download posters: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hxrw6r9wl9hqfjp/AADsTo0FBLI_ol3ol5yUQD4ba?dl=0 Download infographics https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wubwnxooahmeclv/AACsVpSBkK3BzNsGCWVxwK5ka?dl=0 Hawai‘i Tourism Authority: Passenger Arrivals for Saturday, April 11 Yesterday, twenty (20) fewer people arrived at state airports compared to Friday. 404 people arrived in Hawai‘i including 89 visitors and 147 residents. This table shows the number of people who arrived by air from out of state yesterday and does not include interisland travel. HTA release (PDF) https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4437/041220-passenger-count-press-release.pdf Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism: DBEDT reports the following interisland travel numbers for April 7, 2020. Please note reporting is delayed due to processing of visitor arrival forms. Hawai‘i State House of Representatives: Fourth Select Committee on Economic & Financial Preparedness Scheduled The House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness will hold its 4th informational briefing tomorrow, Monday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. The briefing will focus on the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program loans, including an in-depth discussion on planning to reopen Hawai‘i’s economy post coronavirus. The briefing will be held via community television and online and no in-person testimony will be accepted. You can watch the meeting on ‘Olelo Channel 49 or on the House webcast page. https://olelo.org/orhttp://olelo.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=31 This digest in PDF form is here::COVID-19 Daily News Digest April 12, 2020 #COVID19 #Coronavirus #HawaiiSenate #HawaiiLegislature #HILeg2020