U.S. making COVID-19 antiviral drug more available at test sites.
Views expressed in this Hawaii State News summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Accessed on 27 May 2022, 0526 UTC.
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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Omicron variants BA.4, BA.5, dominant in South Africa, detected in Hawaii
There is no listing of which county the case of BA.4 was detected in. The case of BA.5 was detected in a specimen from Hawaii island. Read more
CDC moves Kauai County back to yellow, medium-risk level for COVID-19 impacts
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today moved Kauai County back to the yellow, medium-risk category for COVID-19 impacts. Read more
U.S. making COVID-19 antiviral drug more available at test sites
More federally supported sites are set to open in the coming weeks in Massachusetts and New York City, both hit by a marked rise in infections. Read more
Dominant coronavirus mutant contains ghost of pandemic past
A genetic trait appears to allow the virus “to escape pre-existing immunity from vaccination and prior infection. Read more
Surge in Hawaii’s COVID-19 cases continues for 9th consecutive week
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now ranks Kauai, Honolulu and Maui counties as red, high-risk communities. Read more
More Memorial Day travel expected, despite high gas prices
The average gas price in the U.S. on Thursday was $4.60 per gallon, according to AAA figures. Read more
Editorial: Include telephone calls in telehealth
Telehealth is a concept that has been talked about and tinkered with for years. It took a pandemic, however, to begin carving out a place for it in the hodgepodge American health-care system. Read more
Off the News: Building an urban trail in Honolulu
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is allocating $750,000 to develop a Honolulu urban trail through the state Capitol District, downtown, the waterfront and Chinatown, as part of $14 million in federal COVID-19 Rescue Plan funds it has to spend. It’s a good idea. Read more
Long COVID affects more older adults; shots don’t prevent it
In a study of veterans published today, about one-third who had breakthrough infections showed signs of long COVID. Read more
Hawaii Health Department reports 5 more coronavirus-related deaths, 8,924 new infections
The state’s average positivity rate jumped to 18.3% from 16.9% last week. Read more
Kokua Line: Are expiration dates for iHealth COVID-19 tests extended?
Question: When free at-home COVID-19 tests were first delivered by mail at the beginning of this year, the “use by” date for some kits was only a few months away, and Kokua Line shortly thereafter reported that the expiration date for the CareStart brand was extended by three months from the date printed on the box. Read more
Pandemic-weary Americans plan for summer despite COVID surge
Case counts are as high as they’ve been since mid-February and those figures are likely a major undercount because of unreported positive home test results and asymptomatic infections. Read more
University of Hawaii reinstates indoor masking
Amid the statewide COVID-19 surge, Hawaii’s public schools have reported a ninth straight week of increases in campus cases, and the University of Hawaii, starting today, is reinstating an indoor mask requirement across its 10- campus system. Read more
States diverge in approach to case surge
A high school prom in Hawaii where masked dancers weren’t allowed to touch. A return to virtual city council meetings in one Colorado town after the mayor and others tested positive following an in-person session. A reinstated mask mandate at skilled nursing facilities in Los Angeles County after 22 new outbreaks in a single week. Read more
Creation of Honolulu urban trail part of $14 million tourism recovery plan
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is working on a plan to spend $14 million in COVID-19-era federal funding from the Economic Development Administration that includes development of a Honolulu urban trail that would use virtual reality and other smart features to connect people to points of interest and businesses along the path. Read more
China’s bet on homegrown mRNA vaccines holds back nation
The mRNA vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech has not been cleared in mainland China, despite being authorized for use by separate authorities in Hong Kong and Macao. Read more
Oahu’s Summer Fun to require keiki to wear masks indoors
The decision was made due to the continued increase in COVID-19 cases reported across the islands, according to a news release issued today. Read more
All University of Hawaii campuses reinstating indoor mask requirement
UH officials noted that the CDC today ranks the state with the 4th highest rate in the nation with an average 7-day case rate of 495.9 cases per 100,000 people. Read more
Visitors paid average $371 nightly for Hawaii hotel rooms in April
Easter crowds and spring breakers, mainly from the U.S., nearly filled Hawaii hotel rooms to pre-pandemic levels in April and drove the average daily room rate to more than $371 per night. Read more
Off the News: Report COVID-19 relief fraud
It’s disheartening to see the amount of fraud reported nationally with COVID-19 relief funds, but the public does need clarity on this issue. Read more
Hawaii COVID surge to culminate in June, University of Hawaii researchers forecast
A group of University of Hawaii researchers forecasts the current COVID-19 surge will peak sometime in June. Read more
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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsdigest.net).