Today’s briefing covered a number of areas and some exciting developments that are more promising and hopeful for our community:
PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS
Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami reported on plans for the schools which will remain closed through the last day of the school year on May 28. They will be providing enrichment activities through distance learning and/or distribution of learning packets and other programs to ensure learning resources are provided to the homeless, vulnerable and special education students. Breakfast and lunch grab-n-go will continue through the school year and for the summer. Details on the various programs and plans will be available when the committee’s report is completed and posted on the Senate website.
Of concern to those who have students graduating from public and charter schools is the 2020 graduation ceremonies. While there will be no traditional ceremonies, each school is designing its own creative virtual ceremony to celebrate commencement. To date the following information is available on our district schools. McKinley and KaimukiHigh School seniors will be celebrated with an alternate commencement ceremony on May 24 and May 23 respectively. Students can wear cap and gown, and parents/guardians and siblings can watch the graduates from their vehicles. The events will be live-streamed and/or aired (logistics are still being developed). For more information: McKinley High School – (808) 594-0400 | Kaimuki High School (808) 733-4900.
Middle and elementary schools may or may not have promotion ceremonies. Those who are planning to have ceremonies since we last checked are the 5th grade promotion ceremonies at: Ka’ahumanu Elementary—the promotion ceremony will be virtual. See what is planned at: Kaahumanu Elementary or call 808-587-4414; Ala Wai Elementary – the promotion celebration and a 30-day Ohana event with fun activities to engage our community are being planned. Teachers will return next week to pack student supplies to give families on May 4-5. See their teacher video to keep the spirits up and other information at: Ala Wai Elementary or call 808-973-0070; Lunalilo Elementary—on the last day of school a song will be played over the outside speaker in honor of the Grade 5 students, with each student receiving a Certificate of Completion with a school photo. For more information see: Lunalilo Elementary or call 808-973-0270.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS
Concerns about the lax airport and quarantine procedures – evidenced by a number of “verified” passengers who have not remained quarantined for the required 14 days — were raised with Director of Transportation Jade Butay, Airports Deputy Director Ross Higashi and Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO Chris Tatum. While airline passenger arrivals are down by 90%, there are still about 500 passengers coming into the state per day and increasing. The committee stressed that a better controlled procedure needs to be in place to verify that all passengers (residents, intended residents and visitors) have a place to self-quarantine by calling the hotel and residence prior to allowing them to leave the airport. As a side note, in our discussion with the DOH director and epidemiologist, both concurred that our low number of positive cases was due to the 14-day quarantine and should be continued as long as possible. The committee wants a better system of controls in place before the airports are opened. We are visiting Honolulu Airport tomorrow for more detailed information on procedures and staffing.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON TESTING
Health Director Bruce Anderson and State Epidemiologist Sarah Park clarified to the committee ways to protect us from the virus. DOH oversees two major kinds of COVID19 testing: (1) investigative testing as part of contact tracing of the person testing positive and all close contacts who are symptomatic; and (2) sentinel surveillance testing used to assess COVID19 spread in the community; these tests are ordered by the primary care providers and emergency and urgent care units who provide clinical and background information on those who are sent for testing. Drive-through testing is not part of the DOH system because necessary patient information is not provided; however, any positive test is reported to the DOH. Still in process is serological surveys to determine who has been infected. This is the antibody test that you are hearing about but not yet online. The DOH will come out with guidance next week on what can be reopened, e.g. restaurants.
PUBLIC HEALTH RECOVERY TASK FORCE ON CRITERIA FOR REOPENING
Dr. Mark Mugiishi presented the committee with the Public Health Recovery Task Force recovery framework with triggers for reopening safely. Public and private sector members on the task force are volunteering their time and expertise to develop the plan on responses (varying by industry) to the levels of disruption, from minimal to severe. You can see the framework here. The task force expects to present next week a detailed plan to HiEMA and to the governor for approval. We look forward to the plan and its speedy implementation of a safe and strong recovery. Stay tuned.
