Health

Molokai Cases Slow, State Hits 70% Vaccinated

Wednesday, October 20th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai has had six new COVID cases since the beginning of October, a marked decrease from recent spikes. Between Friday, Oct. 8 and Friday, Oct. 15, there were three individuals on island who tested positive, according to the Dept. of Health as of last Sunday. 

The State of Hawaii has reached a 70 percent vaccination rate, the DOH announced last Friday. The state had previously announced it would drop travel restrictions when it reached this target percentage but the governor has yet to say what will change now that the benchmark has been reached. 

DOH Director Dr.…

COVID at a Glance

Wednesday, October 6th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

New Molokai COVID cases slowed last week from high recent case counts, with eight new cases between Friday, Sept. 24 and Friday, Oct. 1. Total tally on Molokai since the pandemic began is now 231 cases, as of Sunday, according to Dept. of Health statistics. 

Statewide, there are 77,688 total cases since March 2020 and 6,810 cases in the last two weeks.…

20 New Cases Last Week

Thursday, September 30th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week, Molokai had 20 new COVID cases between Friday, Sept. 17 and Friday, Sept. 24, peaking last Tuesday with six positive cases. As of Sunday, there were 49 active cases on island in the last two weeks. 

There were no new cases reported at Molokai schools last week. 

The Dept. of Health has authorized Pfizer booster doses for those over the age of 65 and individuals age 50-64 with underlying medical conditions, in line with CDC recommendations. First priority remains ensuring access for those who are unvaccinated. 

“As the science and the virus evolves, DOH will continue to make evidence-based decisions to ensure those at highest risk for severe illness have access to vaccines,” said Director of Health Dr.…

31 New Cases Last Week

Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Last week was a high case-count week for Molokai, with between one and six new COVID positives each day for a total of 31 new cases between Friday, Sept. 10 and Friday, Sept. 17. Friday, Sept. 10, the Dept. of Health reported five new cases for the island, Saturday had two, Sunday had five, Monday had three, Tuesday had four, Wednesday had one, Thursday had five and Friday closed the week with six new cases. The island is averaging four cases per day, according to DOH, with a total of 202 cases since the pandemic began, as of last Sunday. …

9 New Cases, New County Rules

Thursday, September 16th, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai had nine new COVID-19 cases last week, according to the Dept. of Health as of Sunday’s data – two each last Wednesday and Thursday, and five new cases last Friday. Statewide, the average daily case count over the last week has been 604. 

A Molokai High School employee was among those to test positive last week. 

“Our school is taking the recommended precautions to ensure the safety of our staff and community, including notifying potential close contacts, closing and disinfecting impacted areas, sharing case information with the DOH and coordinating next steps with the Department’s COVID-19 Core Response Team,” wrote MHS Principal Katina Soares in a letter to the school community.…