Health

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.…

Molokai Death Marks First for COVID

Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Each year for Valentine’s Day, Pilipo Solatorio of Halawa Valley would write a love letter to his wife, Dianna, in The Molokai Dispatch for their wedding anniversary. Married 58 years, Dianna passed away two weeks ago at Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu after contracting COVID-19. Now, her family is begging the community to take the virus seriously.

“It was devastating. To hear him cry, and for him to look at you and ask, ‘Can I just kiss her one last time?’ and it was hard for me to tell him ‘you can’t, you know, you can’t touch her.’…