Ten more at MPD get positive presumptive tests
Seven left in limbo found to be negative for virus
Public Health Nursing Supervisor Heidi Taogoshi and Hawaii National Guard Capt. Aris Banaag discuss operations Thursday morning at UH-Maui College. The Maui District Health Office continues to conduct COVID-19 tracing operations with about 30 Guardsmen, who are making 200 calls a day using college equipment and facilities. County officials said that the partnership allows health officials to focus on investigations and monitoring close contacts in the community, county officials said Thursday. There are 24 investigators with 12 more joining the health office next week. The contact tracing team is working seven days a week and doing education and counseling on health issues, testing and financial assistance, according to a presentation at Mayor Michael Victorino’s news conference Thursday. County of Maui / CHRIS SUGIDONO photos
Cpl. Daniel Corpuz assists Maui District Health Office staff with contact tracing operations Thursday morning at UH-Maui College.
Sgt. Jake Garcia, Spc. Brandon Kalehuawehe-Pacheco, Airman 1st Class Kaeo Blas and Sgt. Patrick Janoske review paperwork Thursday morning at UH-Maui College while assisting the Maui District Health Office with contact tracing.
Public Health Nursing Supervisor Heidi Taogoshi and Hawaii National Guard Capt. Aris Banaag discuss operations Thursday morning at UH-Maui College. The Maui District Health Office continues to conduct COVID-19 tracing operations with about 30 Guardsmen, who are making 200 calls a day using college equipment and facilities. County officials said that the partnership allows health officials to focus on investigations and monitoring close contacts in the community, county officials said Thursday. There are 24 investigators with 12 more joining the health office next week. The contact tracing team is working seven days a week and doing education and counseling on health issues, testing and financial assistance, according to a presentation at Mayor Michael Victorino’s news conference Thursday. County of Maui / CHRIS SUGIDONO photos
Cpl. Daniel Corpuz assists Maui District Health Office staff with contact tracing operations Thursday morning at UH-Maui College.
Sgt. Jake Garcia, Spc. Brandon Kalehuawehe-Pacheco, Airman 1st Class Kaeo Blas and Sgt. Patrick Janoske review paperwork Thursday morning at UH-Maui College while assisting the Maui District Health Office with contact tracing.
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Ten additional Maui Police Department employees had positive presumptive tests for COVID-19 in a fourth round of testing Thursday at the Wailuku Police Station, police reported.
The employees were among 86 who underwent rapid testing after they may have had contact with one of three confirmed COVID-positive MPD employees reported last week or seven other employees who had presumptive positive results in testing Monday.
The seven employees were found to be negative for COVID-19 in lab results returned Thursday morning, police said. They will continue to follow Department of Health guidelines and recommendations, police said.
Additional tests were administered to the 10 presumed positive employees Thursday, with lab results pending. The employees, who are a combination of civilians and officers, are in isolation, police said.
Asked about the MPD testing results at his daily briefing Thursday, Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino said "we're getting mixed messages" with the two different types of COVID-19 testing being done.
"We're getting positive negatives," he said.
Maui County spokesman Chris Sugidono said the antigen rapid testing "provides a more immediate preliminary result to see whether the individual needs further testing."
"PCR testing provides confirmation," he said. "It's the gold standard for testing."
In a news release, police said the department "continues to take necessary precautions to minimize the spread, and enhance the safety for our personnel and the community." Measures include commercial sanitizing, expanding and encouraging testing for first responders and limiting face-to-face contact by using electronic means when possible, police said.
On Thursday, 211 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state, along with four more reported deaths, according to the state Department of Health.
Four new cases were reported in Maui County, bringing the county total to 346 cases.
At a drive-thru testing at Keopuolani Park on Thursday, 369 PCR diagnostic tests were administered, more than doubling numbers from earlier recent testings when about 150 and 180 tests were administered, Victorino said.
Of the tests administered Thursday, about half or 180 were for county employees, including employees of the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, where two employees have been reported to have positive COVID-19 tests, as well as employees of the fire and police departments.
On Molokai, where a county Public Works Department baseyard employee was reported to be COVID-19 positive this week, drive-thru testing will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mitchell Pauole Community Center.
Diagnostic PCR testing will be available. Minit Medical will call those tested with results, which are expected to take one to three days.
Participants can preregister for the testing on Minit Medical's website a www.minitmed.com. Participants also can do same-day registration.
People are asked to bring their insurance card, ID and a facial covering or mask.
More information on the testing is available by calling Minit Medical Urgent Care at 667-6161.
Of the four COVID-19 cases reported on Molokai, two are active, Victorino said. He said there may be more cases on the island.
"We're still waiting for some test results for some of our employees who were in contact -- not close contact, but contact -- with a positive case," he said.
With the Labor Day holiday weekend approaching, Victorino urged residents to celebrate while following social distancing guidelines.
"Enjoy your family, yes," he said. "Keep in groups of 10 or less, even with your family. If you're going to have a few drinks, please don't drink and drive.
"Every time we have had a surge, we've usually had big events or long weekends. Many of the counties have changed what they're doing. I don't want to shut Maui County down. I believe most of you are doing a great job.
"Remember, it's very, very important to protect everyone out there. What you do can save a life, and only you can prevent COVID-19."
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.