Updated 1/22/21, 6:38 a.m.
The latest state COVID-19 data shows more than 3,100 confirmed cases of the virus among Native Hawaiians, including 26 Hawaiians who have died of the coronavirus. The numbers are even worse for Pacific Islanders, who make up about four percent of the state’s population and more than 24% of the state’s COVID-19 cases.
Separate coronavirus data on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders was not always available.
Kim Kuʻulei Birnie is a spokeswoman for the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander COVID-19 Task Force, which created a Data and Research Committee that’s helped improve the accuracy of virus data.
The Hawaii Public Library system hit a major milestone during the pandemic through it s digital offerings.
Since 2005, residents could access thousands of books and audiobooks through the library s website. When the pandemic hit, libraries across the state were forced to close leading residents to the digital collection. It was the library s best kept secret, said Stacey Aldrich, state librarian. But when the pandemic hit, we significantly expanded our digital collection.
Last week, the library announced one million ebooks were checked out in 2020 an accomplishment only achieved by 101 other libraries worldwide. We ve never searched one million items before. It s the first time we ve ever circulated that many, Aldrich said. I think what it demonstrates is how important access to books was during the pandemic, even if it was digital.
Updated 1/21/21, 8:46 a.m.
Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth was released from Hilo Medical Center Wednesday afternoon in good health. Roth was admitted into Hilo Medical Center after suffering a heart attack on January 9 in South Kohala.
Doctors have been monitoring Roth s progress after he had a pacemaker and defibrilator implanted the day before. I m excited to return to the comfort of my own home and the care of my wife, Noriko, Roth said. Although I realize that much healing is yet to be done, I am confident that I will be able to return to full swing in no time.
Updated 1/21/21, 12:00 p.m.
Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth was released from Hilo Medical Center Wednesday afternoon in good health. Roth was admitted into Hilo Medical Center after suffering a heart attack on January 9 in South Kohala.
Doctors have been monitoring Roth s progress after he had a pacemaker and defibrilator implanted the day before. I m excited to return to the comfort of my own home and the care of my wife, Noriko, Roth said. Although I realize that much healing is yet to be done, I am confident that I will be able to return to full swing in no time.
Casey Harlow / HPR
Updated 1/15/21, 12:19 p.m.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi is keeping Oahu in the second tier of its reopening plan, and hopes to safely move the city to Tier 3. This is despite the island averaging 130 new cases (not including inmates), and a positivity rate of 3.9% between January 7 and 13.
Under the city s current reopening system, the island could snap back to Tier One with a seven-day average of more than 100 cases and a positivity rate over 5%.
Yesterday, 118 new cases were reported on Oahu.
Blangiardi reiterated the surge in new cases was expected due to the holiday gatherings, and there was a downward trend in recent days.