After hundreds tested Thursday, only one positive result so far

2 prosecutor’s office cases turn out to be negative

There was only one positive COVID-19 test "so far" out of more than 300 administered at Keopuolani Park on Thursday, Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino announced Friday.

He said only 35 people out of nearly 370 tested still were waiting for results. He called the one positive case so far "good news all around that front."

The results come on the eve of the three-day Labor Day weekend, usually filled with large gatherings of family and friends and outdoor activities. But at his daily news conference Friday afternoon, Victorino advised caution.

"I want everyone to go out and enjoy themselves and have fun and enjoy their families; all I'm asking is no gatherings," he said.

Victorino pointed to restrictions on Oahu and Hawaii island, including the closing of beach parks for leisure activities, to prevent gatherings and the further spread of COVID-19. Both islands are experiencing a surge in new cases.

On Friday, Oahu saw 236 new cases and Hawaii island, 34. Maui County logged one new case and Kauai, none.

Victorino encouraged residents to continue the use of face masks and to employ physical distancing and limited gatherings.

"If you have more than 10 of you, then try to break it up," he said, adding that police and state officials will be out monitoring public areas during the holiday weekend.

The county Department of Prosecuting Attorney received good news Friday before Labor Day. Two county Department of Prosecuting Attorney employees who initially tested positive for COVID-19 now have been confirmed to be negative for the virus in additional testing, Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Don Guzman said Friday.

"We share in this blessing right before Labor Day weekend," he said after learning about the negative results. "I think people will enjoy the weekend more instead of worrying."

The two employees include a then-state Judiciary employee who was asymptomatic and took the test as a requirement for a new job at the prosecutor's office. The employee last worked Monday at Hoapili Hale, the courthouse building in Wailuku, and received a positive test result that night, according to a news release from the Judiciary.

The chambers and courtroom of 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Richard Bissen were closed for thorough cleaning and disinfecting Tuesday, the Judiciary reported. The courtroom has remained closed this week, with scheduled hearings handled by judges in other courtrooms.

On Monday, after a prosecutor's office employee tested positive for COVID-19 last week, all 47 employees working in the old courthouse building were tested by antigen rapid testing.

The presumptive testing returned a positive result for one employee, who on Friday received a negative result from PCR confirmatory testing done after the initial test, Guzman said. He said the employee was released from quarantine by the state Department of Health based on the results of the second test.

The former Judiciary employee, who now works at the prosecutor's office, was negative for COVID-19 in results delivered Thursday from PCR testing done after the initial positive test, Guzman said.

He said the one confirmed COVID-19 case among prosecutor's office employees likely resulted from community spread.

"It's reasonable that household members could easily be exposed and then come to work and be asymptomatic," he said.

He said that employee was sent home last week after officials learned about contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

"We can't do anything about people's actions outside the building," he said. "All we can do is prevent the spread while people are in the building."

Since late last week, deputy prosecutors have stayed out of the courthouse and have appeared by videoconference for court hearings at Judge Bissen's request.

Prosecutor's office employees participated in PCR confirmatory testing Thursday at a drive-thru event at Keopuolani Park and are awaiting results.

In addition to having employees tested, Guzman said the office has been sanitized three times by the same workers who spray Maui Economic Opportunity buses at night. The office has continued with coronavirus precautions including temperature checks upon entering the building and a daily sanitation schedule. Plexiglas dividers have been installed between work stations.

With most deputy prosecutors teleworking from home, a "skeleton crew" of six to eight employees has been in the office this week, Guzman said.

He said he approved all sick leave or personal leave requests from employees.

"It's such a fear factor," he said. "There's a genuine fear for your own safety and health. All preventive measures don't deter employees' fear of being exposed through another employee."

A similar reversal of testing results occurred this week at the Wailuku Police Station, where rapid antigen testing was done Monday after three confirmed COVID-19 cases among Maui Police Department employees there last week. Seven people who had presumptive positive results Monday were found to be negative for COVID-19 in lab results returned Thursday, police said.

Additional rapid antigen testing Thursday resulted in presumptive positive tests for 10 employees, who are in isolation while awaiting lab results, police said.

In another COVID-19 outbreak, tests of about 20 workers at a county Public Works Department baseyard on Molokai have turned up negative, Victorino said. The workers were tested earlier this week after an employee tested positive for the virus, with the department receiving the news Monday.

After the news conference, county spokesman Chris Sugidono said that nine employees were retested as a precaution because they had close contact with the infected employee.

Those results should be available today, Victorino said. Employees who were in close contact with the infected worker continue to quarantine and have not reported to work.

Victorino reminded Molokai residents of a drive-thru testing event at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. Participants should preregister for the testing on Minit Medical's website at minitmed.com. For more information, call Minit Medical Urgent Care at (808) 667-6161.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com. Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.