The State Department of Health updated its information for today’s COVID-19 report.  With 355 new cases reported today, the state’s total cases of COVID-19 number 4,312, and of those, 2,556 are active cases.  The State now has 40 deaths from the disease.

Hawaii County with 4 new cases, with 18 active cases according to the State Department of Health.  ** Updated 3:24 p.m., by Lt. Gov. Dr. Josh Green at the Gov’s press conference:  one individual on the Big Island is hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit with COVID-19.

O’ahu added 343 new cases, for a total of 2,475 active cases out of 3,900 cumulative cases.

Maui has 7 new, and Kaua’i has 1 new.

Gov. David Ige is holding a press conference at 2:30 today, with Lt. Gov. Dr. Josh Green and the following additional participants:

• Danette Wong Tomiyasu, Dep. Director, Dept. of Health
• Nolan Espinda, Director, Dept. of Public Safety
• Scott Morishige, Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness
• Dr. Emily Roberson, Disease Investigation Branch Chief, Dept. of Health

The press conference will be carried on the Facebook pages of KWXX and B97/B93.

Because of the spread of COVID-19 on all islands, the Hawaii State Teachers Association is filing a Prohibited Practices Complaint with the Hawaii State Labor Board, saying it has requested a hearing to discuss and bargain over the change in working conditions for teachers…and the Department of Education has refused.  DOE says there has been no significant change in working conditions, according to Corey Rosenlee, President of the HSTA.    Rosenlee said although schools have moved to online learning, in many schools the students are supposed to come in next week to pick up materials, and he’s concerned about COVID-19 exposure for both students and teachers.

Rosenlee said the HSTA will also file a class grievance because of violations to the contract agreed to by teachers last June, because teaching conditions have drastically changed.  The HSTA believes teachers should be able to tele-work, and not have to report to schools at a time when COVID-19 is spreading.

Attorney Eric Seitz said he also plans to file a suit–not certain if it will be filed in State or Federal Court– on behalf of  Special Education students, whose parents are not now able to get the support they need to educate and care for these children.

The detailed report from Hawaii DOH is below.