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Hawaii Grapples With How To Use Stockpile Of Rapid COVID-19 Tests - Honolulu Civil Beat
The fast COVID tests have certain limitations but still hold potential to assist during future outbreaks. Reading time: 4 minutes.
Some 720,000 rapid COVID-19 tests nearing their official expiration date in March sit in a state warehouse.
The Hawaii Department of Health bought the rapid tests last fall to meet the needs of long-term care facilities after a federal allotment of the tests ran dry. Eventually, long-term care facilities received another type of test Abbott BinaxNOW tests sent to nursing homes by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that do not require extra equipment to analyze results. That led to the current stockpile, according to DOH Spokeswoman Janice Okubo.
JOSH GREEN â Concerns sparked HI-EMA advisory
As Hawaii’s COVID-19 case numbers reached their highest mark in months, the state asked Sunday that residents reduce gatherings to four or fewer people ahead of Christmas and New Year holidays.
Maui County’s gathering limit is no more than 10, and Mayor Michael Victorino has asked people before the holidays to consider celebrating outdoors and taking other precautions.
Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency on Sunday afternoon said it “strongly urges” residents to avoid gatherings of five or more people, making sure groups are only within members of the same household, according to a news release.