Hawaii State Department of Health holds a daily media briefing.  Today, Thursday, March 19, 2020, as of noon, DOH Director Bruce Anderson said more than 1,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted.  Ten new cases were confirmed positive with COVID-19, making a total of 26 cases of COVID-19.  He and Dr. Sarah Park, State Epidemiologist, said all are travel related—people who had traveled or had contact with somebody who had traveled.

 

There is one known case on the Big Island, a woman staying at a Hilo hotel.

 

Dr. Anderson and Dr. Park said there may be community spread, but they have not uncovered COVID-19 cases in anybody who has not  had direct or indirect contact with travel.  They stressed that if you return home from travel, you must self-isolate for 14 days, even if you feel you are healthy.

 

Dr. Anderson said State DOH has tested 30 or 40 seriously ill individuals.  In addition, they have conducted 124 “surveillance” tests, of people with lung issues who did not have the flu, but also did not test positive for COVID-19.

 

Dr. Anderson said we have testing centers (on the Big Island, go to Hilo Medical Center or the North Hawaii Community Hospital clinic near Longs), but please only do so with a doctor’s order and only if you have symptoms of COVID-19.  Testing supplies are limited.

 

Dr. Park stressed that for now, there is no known treatment for most viral illnesses, whether COVID-19 or the common cold, and that most people will get mild cases and not need hospitalization.

 

The State’s COVID-19 web site is https://hawaiicovid19.com/