Senate special session, COVID strategies, State assistance
November 20, 2020
Aloha Neighbor,
ALOHA TOWER TURNS PURPLE FOR HUNGER & HOMELESS AWARENESS
You’re wondering why Aloha Tower is turning purple. For another day, the iconic tower will be illumined in purple to observe Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. To find out more, click here. Though the pandemic has exacerbated the homeless problem in Hawaii, nearly 3,400 found. permanent housing between March and September. The conference with the many providers working with the homeless will hopefully increase those numbers.
SENATE UPDATE: Confirms Two Judges; Leadership & Committee Assignments
The Senate met in Special Session today and confirmed two judges: (1) Judge Todd W. Eddins was confirmed to be associate justice on the Supreme Court. Judge Eddins was appointed to the First Circuit Court in 2017 and presided over 85 jury trials and resolved thousands of legal motions. Eddins also with the Office of the Public Defender before entering private practice concentrating on complex criminal, civil, and appellate litigation. (2) Stephanie R.S. Char was confirmed a District Family Court Judge of the Fifth Circuit (Kauai). Char has been with the Kauai Office of the Public Defender since 2003.
Gov. David Ige issued his 15th COVID-19 emergency proclamation which requires a statewide mask mandate. All four counties and the state now require all persons in the State to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when in public. Exceptions can be found here. View the entire proclamation here.
STATE RELEASES WEEKLY COVID-19 CLUSTER REPORTS
The State Department of Health (DOH) released its first Hawaii COVID-19 cluster report, documenting COVID-19 cluster investigations during the past 14 days. The report highlights recent incidents of covid occurrences. View it here. A new report will be posted every Thursday as well as other data on the DOH web site here.
You can contact the DOH Disease Investigation Branch (DIB) for the following:
For disease reporting concerns, call 24/7, including holidays, (808) 586-4586.
For inquiries on cases or exposures in healthcare settings, including community care homes, call the hotline above and/or email doh.docd.hai@doh.hawaii.gov
To reach the DIB Chief Emily Roberson, call (808) 587-6567.
For general DIB inquiries, call (808) 586-8362.
SECOND ROUND OF SURGE TESTING: 10 Day Run Underway
The City launched a second round of free covid testing with 16,000 tests ready to use. As covid-fatigued families are itching to celebrate the holiday and with tourist numbers rising, it will be a challenge to advance to Tier 4??? Tier 3 of the City’s strategic recovery plan. Help get this pandemic under control and get tested. In our district you can go to (1) Mother Waldron Park -tomorrow (11/20) at 9am-2pm; (2) Mission Memorial- 11/25. 9-2; and Waikiki Shell- 11/20-23 from 8am-2pm. All you need is a state ID, driver’s license, or passport. Get information and register here.
MORE PRE-TRAVEL TESTING PARTNERS
The State approved 13 more pre-testing partners for domestic trans-Pacific travel : American Family Care, American Samoa Department of Health, Seattle-based Atlas Genomics, Alaska-based Capstone Clinic, Clarity Lab Solutions, Costco/AZOVA, Go Health Urgent Care, UC San Diego Health, University of Washington Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, WestPac Labs, and XpresCheck.
Two interisland travel partners were also approved: (1) The National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii’s Consortium. Tests are available for individuals 5 years and older, and the cost is $125. Health insurance is accepted. Walk in on-site or preregister here. (2) S&G Labs Hawaii. For more information, click here.
A negative covid test result must be uploaded into the Safe Travels digital platform here OR be presented upon arrival in Hawaii. For more information about the state’s testing partners and the pre-travel testing programs, visit https://hawaiicovid19.com/
UPDATE ON STATE ASSISTANCE
SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
The City will spend $151 million in CARES Act money to support small businesses, or nearly 40% of the funds. The City expects to spend all $387 million of its federal COVID-19 funding to comply with the federal requirement that all CARES funds be expended by December 31, 2020. Check out the City’s website here: https://www.oneoahu.org/small-business
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
Labor Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio reached out to UI claimants to explain the UI programs and challenges of processing the thousands of claims while complying with federal law: (1) UC
(Unemployment Compensation or “regular UI”) – 26 weeks of benefits; (2) PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program) – 39 weeks of benefits; (3) PEUC (Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation Program) – 13 weeks of benefits once UC and PUA benefits are exhausted; and (4) EB20 (Extended Benefits Program) – 13 weeks of benefits or until the state’s unemployment rate decreases to less than 5%.
PROMISING JOBS IN DEMAND: If You’re Considering a Career or Job
A new report identified 137 promising careers that matter most when Hawaii employers hire and make promotion decisions. These are in-demand, living wage occupations throughout the state. The Promising Credentials in Hawaii report can be found here.
HAWAII STATE LIBRARY WELCOMES YOU BACK THE WIKI WAY!
The Hawaii State Public Library welcomed users back last Sunday with “Wiki Visits” allowing a limited number into the library for quick grab and go trips to select books and materials and for Computer Time appointments. Visits start at the top of the hour and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis; visitors will have up to 45 minutes to find books and materials, ask for assistance, use copiers or use a computer. Wiki Visit is limited to one person per day. View the Wiki Visits video here: https://www.librarieshawaii.org/
Everyone entering the public libraries will be required to follow health and safety protocols at all times. Due to ongoing renovation and repair work, the McCully-Moiliili Public Library will not be offering Wiki Visits. The Hawaii State Library will offer Library Take Out only. For more information, call the Office of the State Librarian at 586-3714. To access ebooks and streaming movies, go to https://www.librarieshawaii.org/.
SANTA GOES DIGITAL
Dubbed “Operation Santa,” the US postal service launched this past Monday a program that fulfills wish lists for families and children in need. Gift-givers can adopt families online. Online adoptions starts Dec. 4 and ends Dec. 19. Kids can address their letters and lists to: Santa Claus, 123 Elf Rd. North Pole 88888. Santa will accept mail through Dec. 15. Gift givers should register and can adopt as many letters as they want online. Gifts must be dropped off at any post office location, preferably wrapped. The Postal Service recommends using free Priority Mailboxes. For more information about the program, click here.
