Health

Hospital Reduces Risk to Patients and Staff

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

MGH News Release
Molokai General Hospital is committed to the safety and well-being of our patients and employees. Effective immediately, we are taking the following steps to help reduce the potential of exposure at our clinics to protect patients and all clinic staff.
We have made the decision to cancel all elective well-care appointments, including but not limited to, annual physicals, well woman exams, and other preventive exams effective Tuesday, March 17 through May 16. Patients with scheduled appointments have been, or are in the process of being, notified about their appointment cancellation.
MGH providers will be reviewing all other upcoming in-clinic patient appointments to determine what visits may be medically appropriate to be conducted as a Virtual Visit or telephonically.…

Community Health Center COVID-19 Response

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

MCHC News Release
Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC) is announcing several updates to the operations of their facility in response to the COVID-19 outbreak including Medical, Dental, Behavioral Health, WIC and Ka Hana Pono programs and services, effective immediately.
MCHC is an active COVID-19 testing site. Testing is administered via our onsite Acute Care Treatment (ACT) Clinic. Hours of operation for the ACT Clinic are Monday through Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Hours are subject to change. Only people with flu-like symptoms should visit these locations. Those who are healthy and not feeling ill should not come to these facilities for COVID-19 testing.…

Library Closure and Resources

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

HSPLS News Release

All public library locations in Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS), including the Molokai Public Library and bookmobile services, will be closed until April 7. Please know that we are working diligently to navigate the ongoing changes in guidance and requirements from local, state, and federal authorities during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Given the most recent information, as of March 19, all book drops will be closed. We are asking everyone to hold on to our library materials until we open again.

While we are closed, we don’t want for you to worry about fines and due dates during this stressful time.…

County Emergency Rules Mandate Staying at Home

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino announced a “stay at home and work from home” amendment to the Public Health Emergency Rules in an effort to fight the spread of COVID-19.

The amendment is effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 25. The new order will be in effect until April 30.

“The health and safety of our community has always been my top priority and I believe we need to take bold actions if we are to stop the spread of this virus,” Mayor Victorino said. “I am ordering all our residents to stay at home and our visitors to stay in their rooms as much as possible.…

Youth Affected by Closures

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

While school closures continue, academics aren’t the only aspect of COVID-19 precautions affecting Molokai’s youth.

The Molokai Youth Center, an organization that provides an after-school foundation and school break programs for hundreds of keiki ages 8 to 17, had to close its doors due to its location in a County building — which is closed for 30 days along with other county facilities — and the mandates for no gatherings larger than 10 people.

“When I received the email confirming our building is closed for 30 days, I’ve had quite a few parents contact me,” said Andrea Dudoit, director of the Youth Center.…

COVID-19 Prevention Efforts Escalate, ‘Stay at Home’ Mandate Ordered

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

COVID-19 Prevention Efforts Escalate, ‘Stay at Home’ Mandate Ordered

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Molokai’s Saturday Market in Kaunakakai is normally one of the island’s busiest weekly events, with vendors, farmers, artists, crafters, bakers and shop owners lining the sidewalk. But last Saturday, residents driving through town found it empty — one of the many signs of precautions taken to combat the Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19, pandemic. Restaurants are closed for dine-in meals, most businesses have temporarily closed their doors and residents have been ordered to hunker down in their homes to safeguard everyone’s health and prevent spread of the virus.

As of Sunday, March 22, there were 56 cases in the state, of which 48 cases were residents and eight were non-residents.…

Services for Kupuna During COVID-19

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

By Catherine Cluett Pactol

Kupuna are among those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults have shown to be among those most at risk from the virus, and with many regular services discontinued, many kupuna are fearful to leave their homes for essentials.

“I think a crisis of this magnitude does impact the psyche and I aloha the kupuna who worry about their health and are anxious about the uncertainties of it all,” said Kaui Kapuni Manera, Alu Like kupuna program manager, which offers services to elders. “What I can share is what our kupuna have taught us all our lives: plant food, eat the food off of the land and sea, malama our ‘aina, malama our neighbors and ohana and share food if can….…

Molokai General Hospital Protocol Updates

Tuesday, March 24th, 2020

MGH News Release

Molokai General Hospital has begun using an external triage system (patients are greeted and screened outside the ED) to screen patients. Those who may meet criteria will be tested outside of the hospital to expedite care. The testing is an extension of the emergency department services.

We encourage anyone who suspects they may have been exposed to COVID-19 to speak with their medical provider to find out if they meet testing requirements.

As of Wednesday, March 25, Molokai General Hospital will be limiting its number of entrances to one.  All people entering the main facility will need to use the front lobby sliding glass door. …

County Emergency Rules Mandate Staying at Home

Sunday, March 22nd, 2020

County of Maui News Release

Mayor Michael Victorino announced a “stay at home and work from home” amendment to the Public Health Emergency Rules in an effort to fight the spread of COVID-19.

The amendment is effective at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 25. The new order will be in effect until April 30.

“The health and safety of our community has always been my top priority and I believe we need
to take bold actions if we are to stop the spread of this virus,” Mayor Victorino said. “I am ordering all our residents to stay at home and our visitors to stay in their rooms as much as possible.…

Lessons from Covid-19

Thursday, March 19th, 2020

Watching the Administration floundering like a fish out of water in the Covid-19 pandemic teaches Molokai a great lesson.

The Administration of the U.S. lags way behind the rest of the world in responding to the threat. Why is this? How can a nation that claims intellectual, economic, technological, and moral world supremacy fail to greet the pandemic with at least meaningful testing ?

This has happened largely because of the Administration’s refusal to recognize the significance of Covid-19. The news is still full of fools ranting against the Left for discussing the matter. It has even been suggested that Democrats and Liberals are intentionally damaging the economy by publicizing the issue.…