DOH: Two new cases of COVID-19 traveled from Maui to Kauai

Couple discloses close contact with COVID-19 positive individual

State officials said Saturday morning that the state’s two newest cases of COVID-19 -- an adult male and adult female -- were on Maui for vacation before traveling to Kauai and testing positive for the new coronavirus Friday night.

The Indiana couple is staying in a quarantined location set up by Kauai county and have both improved to where they don’t need hospitalization, Gov. David Ige said.

The male and female, a couple, traveled from the Mainland on a direct flight to Maui arriving on March 2 on United Airlines. They stayed at a hotel in Lahaina from March 2 to March 8.

Shortly after arrival, “Case A” developed a fever, cough and shortness of breath. On March 4, “Case A” was seen at an urgent care facility and given a rapid flu test, that tested negative. On that same day, “Case B” started feeling ill.

On March 7, “Case B” was seen at an urgent care facility. On March 8, both flew on Hawaiian Airlines 149 from Maui to Kauai.

On Monday, “Case A” was seen at an urgent care facility on Kauai and prescribed antibiotics.

On Thursday, “Case A” was seen at Wilcox Memorial Hospital and at that setting, they informed health care professionals that they had been in close contact with an individual that was COVID-19 positive.

Samples were taken Thursday. The positive results came back Friday night.

State officials are in process of contacting those who have come in close contact with the two, and are tracing their itinerary. Where they were traveling from, where they stayed while on Maui and other details were not disclosed by the state Saturday morning.

Three health care workers who treated them were not wearing appropriate personal protection devices, Ige said.

“We know this is a rapidly changing situation,” he said.

The new cases bring to four confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state.