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| Lava in the Lake Continues to Move Despite several brief pauses over the past month, lava lake activity continues in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. Lava is erupting from the west vent, which has built a steep spatter cone. The active lake is perched slightly above the surrounding solidified lava. Jan. 10 USGS photo by M. Patrick |
Registration will be available at the event at the Robert Herkes Gymnasium next to the Pāhala school campus. The community outreach is also sponsored by Kaʻū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, Community First Kuleana Health, Papa Ola Lokahi: Ke Ko'oKo'o Project, Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi, Hawai'i state Department of Health and Queen's Ulu Network.
THREE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN NEW COVID CASES A DAY is the average over the last two weeks for this island, according to the state Department of Health. The active cases over the last 14 days in Na'alehu number 28, Pahala 20, Volcano 18 and Ocean View ten or under.
Statewide, 3,857 new cases were reported on just Monday and 2,929 on Tuesday. According to physician and Lt. Gov. Josh Green, statewide there are 325 hospitalized, with 133 of them vaccinated. Thirty-three are in the ICU.
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that "Scientists are seeing signals that COVID-19′s alarming omicron wave may have peaked in Britain and is about to do the same in the U.S., at which point cases may start dropping off dramatically. The reason: The variant has proved so wildly contagious that it may already be running out of people to infect, just a month and a half after it was first detected in South Africa."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
A COVID UPDATE ON KAʻŪ HOSPITAL'S SISTER FACILITY came Tuesday from Hilo Medical Center spokesperson Elena Cabatu. She said Hilo Medical Center is caring for 20 COVID patients, one in ICU who is unvaccinated. No patients are on ventilators. Eleven are unvaccinated and nine are vaccinated. "The hospital is currently very full with COVID and non-COVID patients. Long term care facilities are experiencing their own exposures and positives and thus are unable to accept hospital patients ready for discharge."
Hilo Medical Center is preparing to increase its hospital and long term care bed capacity, said Cabatu.
Like many sectors in the community and in healthcare, staffing across facilities and clinics "are being affected by COVID positives and exposures, but we are managing and have protocols in place. We are operating under the contingency guidelines within the CDC’s guidance for healthcare workers: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/images/hcp/WorkRestrictionsHCP.jpg. Fortunately, we are anticipating the arrival of FEMA-funded personnel next week."
Hilo Medical Center visiting hours have been changed, due to the recent surge, increasing hospitalizations and increasing Emergency Department visits. One vaccinated visitor per day per patient is welcome from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. In the Emergency Department, no visitors are allowed with an exception for patients 17 years of age and under and end-of-life cases. For a short stay in the hospital, one vaccinated visitor may accompany a patient to short stay to help with check-in only and must leave after.
View the full guidelines at: https://www.hilomedicalcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Updated-Visitation-Policy-Jan-2022.pdf
A COVID BOOSTER SHOT MAY SOON BE REQUIRED TO ENTER HAWAI'I, with the indication coming from Gov. David Ige, who spoke Tuesday on the Honolulu Star Advertiser Spotlight program.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recently recommended that anyone 12 and older receive the booster to be considered fully vaccinated. The governor said his staff is considering adding the requirement to Hawai'i's Safe Travels Program and would give at least two weeks notice. Those without the booster or without a negative test would have to submit to home or hotel quarantine.
The governor said he would leave it to the mayors in Hawai'i to decide whether boosters should be required for some businesses and activities.
under the age of 21.
So far this year, there have been 24 DUI arrests compared with 43 during the same period last year, a decrease of 44.2 percent.
There have been 18 major accidents so far this year compared with 16 during the same period last year, an increase of 12.5 percent. There were two fatal crashes, resulting in two fatalities, compared with pne fatal crash, resulting in one atality for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 100 percent for fatal crashes, and 100 percent for fatalities. The HPD statement promised that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide.
The Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association will set up a temporary retail area beneath a tent near park rangers, and its online store will continue to be available.
Like many sectors in the community and in healthcare, staffing across facilities and clinics "are being affected by COVID positives and exposures, but we are managing and have protocols in place. We are operating under the contingency guidelines within the CDC’s guidance for healthcare workers: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/images/hcp/WorkRestrictionsHCP.jpg. Fortunately, we are anticipating the arrival of FEMA-funded personnel next week."
Hilo Medical Center visiting hours have been changed, due to the recent surge, increasing hospitalizations and increasing Emergency Department visits. One vaccinated visitor per day per patient is welcome from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. In the Emergency Department, no visitors are allowed with an exception for patients 17 years of age and under and end-of-life cases. For a short stay in the hospital, one vaccinated visitor may accompany a patient to short stay to help with check-in only and must leave after.
View the full guidelines at: https://www.hilomedicalcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Updated-Visitation-Policy-Jan-2022.pdf
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recently recommended that anyone 12 and older receive the booster to be considered fully vaccinated. The governor said his staff is considering adding the requirement to Hawai'i's Safe Travels Program and would give at least two weeks notice. Those without the booster or without a negative test would have to submit to home or hotel quarantine.
The governor said he would leave it to the mayors in Hawai'i to decide whether boosters should be required for some businesses and activities.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
HAWAI'I ISLAND POLICE ARRESTED 15 MOTORISTS, during the week of Jan. 3 through Jan. 9, for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Three drivers were involved in a traffic accident. None wereSo far this year, there have been 24 DUI arrests compared with 43 during the same period last year, a decrease of 44.2 percent.
There have been 18 major accidents so far this year compared with 16 during the same period last year, an increase of 12.5 percent. There were two fatal crashes, resulting in two fatalities, compared with pne fatal crash, resulting in one atality for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 100 percent for fatal crashes, and 100 percent for fatalities. The HPD statement promised that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| Kīlauea Visitor Center will be closed Jan. 19 and 20 for treatment to protect it from termite damage. NPS Photo |
TERMITE TREATMENT WILL SHUT DOWN all of Kīlauea Visitor Center, including the restrooms, lānai, administrative space and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store, on Wednesday, Jan. 19 and Thursday, Jan. 20. A statement from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park says, "During an inspection, the
park’s facilities management crew noted significant termite damage and estimated that 25 percent of the attic framing in KVC had active termite nests. If not treated, the infestation will cause structural damage to the historic building and the park’s cultural resource collections."
During the treatment, portable restrooms will be available for visitors in the Kīlauea Visitor Center parking lot. All other restroom facilities will remain open, including Uēkahuna, Kīlauea Iki, Devastation Trail, Nāhuku and more. Park rangers will be available to assist visitors near the hula platform not far from the Volcano Art Center Gallery. Visitors are reminded to keep everyone safe by maintaining social distance and to wear a mask.  |
| A ranger gives assistance at Kilauea Visitor Center. NPS Photo by Janice Wei |
The Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association will set up a temporary retail area beneath a tent near park rangers, and its online store will continue to be available.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| See archives of The Ka`u Calendar at www.kaucalendar.com and find the monthly print copy in mailboxes from Volcano through Ocean View. |
