More inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 at Halawa Correctional Facility kitv.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kitv.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Union: Hawaii prison guards overworked, scared amid outbreak
December 18, 2020 GMT
HONOLULU (AP) A union representing more than 300 employees at Hawaii’s largest prison said the state is not doing enough to combat a coronavirus outbreak at the facility.
Union Public Workers Administrator Liz Ho said Wednesday that employees at the Halawa Correctional Facility on Oahu have been working under hazardous conditions and have had to work up to 36-hour shifts because of understaffing, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They’re stressed, they’re overwhelmed and they’re scared,” Ho said. “Every day they go to work afraid to contract COVID-19 and bring it home to their families.”
HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER - Dec. 18: 130 New COVID-19 Cases And 1 Death - Honolulu Civil Beat
HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER Dec. 18: 130 New COVID-19 Cases And 1 Death
Oahu’s weekly case rate continues to rise, so current restrictions on gatherings and businesses will remain in place.
Health officials reported 130 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Friday and one fatality on Oahu.
Among the cases recorded Thursday were 105 on Oahu, seven on the Big Island, 11 on Maui, one on Kauai and six Hawaii residents diagnosed out of state.
The official state death toll is 281. Civil Beat calculates at least 286 people have died from the disease in Hawaii, including five deaths on Hawaii island that are still pending medical verification by the state. Hawaii County Civil Defense has recorded 49 deaths on the Big Island.
HAWAII VIRUS TRACKER - Dec. 17: 142 New COVID-19 Cases And 2 Deaths - Honolulu Civil Beat
The governor has shortened the mandatory quarantine period for Hawaii-bound travelers.
Health officials reported 142 new COVID-19 cases statewide on Thursday, along with two fatalities.
Among the cases recorded Thursday were 113 on Oahu, 16 on the Big Island, seven on Maui, one on Kauai and five Hawaii residents diagnosed out of state.
One fatality was recorded on Oahu and the other was a Big Island death that had already been reported by Hawaii County Civil Defense. More details about the latest deaths are expected Thursday afternoon.
The official state death toll is 280. Civil Beat calculates at least 285 people have died from the disease in Hawaii, including five deaths on Hawaii island that are still pending medical verification by the state. Hawaii County Civil Defense has recorded 49 deaths on the Big Island.
Officials call for reinforcements amid growing Coronavirus outbreak at Halawa Correctional Facility kitv.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kitv.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.