Kona Community Hospital says  Ali`i Health Center, which tests the public on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, has identified at least eight people who were exposed at the large gathering, and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. Results for several additional attendees are pending.

Kona Community Hospital is asking its employees to be tested if they have recently been in Miloli’i or attended a gathering there, as the State Department of Health has identified a cluster of Hawaii Island residents who tested positive for coronavirus after attending a gathering in Miloli`i on Saturday, August 22nd.

The line to be tested on Wednesday at Ali’i Health Center’s usual Wednesday 9 til noon testing, stretched from Keauhou Shopping Center up Kamehameha III about .2 of a mile at 9:15 a.m., and down into the testing area.

 

The island’s  State legislators–four State Senators and four State Representatives have asked Mayor Kim to close down the Miloli’i Fishing Village so only residents may enter.  Sen. Kai Kahele, who has family roots in the village, shared the letter.

The letter reads:

Dear Mayor Kim,

We are requesting the immediate closure of the Miloliʻi Fishing Village in South Kona in light of the recent outbreak of COVID-19. It is our understanding there are at least 10 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the village and with the upcoming Labor Day weekend, we strongly believe an entry control point be immediately established so that village access is limited to residents only.

The Miloliʻi Fishing Village community of approximately 300 residents has many multigenerational households and because they do not have anywhere else to go, COVID-19 has the potential to spread rapidly to other members in the home. We are also requesting the immediate testing of the entire Miloliʻi Fishing Village by the County of Hawai‘i and/or the Department of Health. In addition, we are requesting that each household be provided adequate personal protective equipment as available by the County of Hawaiʻi. Finally, we recommend educational outreach in the village so that the community realizes the seriousness of the pandemic and the importance of following social distancing and mask wearing rules.

We ask that you implement the closure of Miloliʻi Fishing Village immediately. Your prompt actions will help to contain and control the spread of COVID-19 outbreak within this community especially with the upcoming Labor Day weekend. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.