The COVID-19 cluster at Harbor Lights condominiums has grown to 68 cases, with Maui County planning more testing efforts at the complex Thursday.

According to the state Department of Health, the cluster may have begun with a holiday choir practice, Maui County Deputy Managing Director Josiah Nishita said Monday during a county news conference.

He said the cases continue to be a concern for the county, which is monitoring the situation, but added that people should not stigmatize the apartments or its residents.

“We are all one community, we are all in this together,” he said. “As we see COVID-19 across the world, COVID-19 can hit anywhere at any time.”

After some miscommunication, the county did receive confirmation from condo management to conduct cleaning. The county-assisted sanitization, which has been done in areas like Hana and Molokai to prevent larger outbreaks, was set for 8 p.m. Sunday, the first available time for the cleaning company, Nishita said.

Around 7 p.m. Sunday, a resident notified fire officials that the cleaning agents were causing him respiratory distress, but Maui Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials crew responded and informed the resident that cleaning had not yet begun, Nishita said.

When the company did arrive for cleaning, people were walking in the areas that were supposed to be cleaned and one person verbally protested the cleaning, so the company left, Nishita said.

He added that Harbor Lights is working to reschedule the cleaning and is also working with the county.

On Dec. 31, the county, with the assistance of Minit Medical, did 260 tests at the complex. The Hawaii National Guard then administered more than 20 tests to those in isolation, Nishita said.

Harbor Lights management could not be immediately reached for comment via phone or email Monday.

At Harbor Lights on Monday, a resident who asked to remain anonymous said, “I’m feeling cautious and I’m feeling watchful and of course hopeful.”

The resident said she is semiretired and so is staying in her unit for the most part. But she added that on Monday afternoon, she still saw people hanging out in common areas without masks.

Since the notice was posted Christmas Day about the COVID-19 cases, she said more residents have been wearing masks. But prior to that, not everyone did so, and there were still larger gatherings going on in the complex courtyard, she said.

The 20-year resident of the complex confirmed that Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang had been to the property at least two times to speak to residents since the cluster was found. He brought a bullhorn and gave residents tips from outside the building about the disease and how to quarantine.

Another resident who also asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation said he feels that “Harbor Lights management had dropped the ball on all of this.”

He said security did not stop anyone from entering the property, though there is a sign that says the property is closed to visitors.

The resident said he had not personally seen any of the housekeeping staff cleaning the common areas, despite news reports saying that the condominium had already been conducting cleaning.

Nishita said that the county has been in touch with the state Department of Health and Gov. David Ige to discuss other mitigation strategies for the situation at Harbor Lights.

The county has also supplied face masks and other personal protective equipment to the complex.

Social service agencies are also assisting, and anyone who wants to make donations such as food and cleaning supplies may contact the county, Nishita said.

He said the county expects to see more cases from the complex, though health officials said it should not be a cause of alarm for the wider community.

Mayor Michael Victorino thanked the residents for their patience and said some miscommunication had held back the cleaning last week prior to Sunday.

He added that there are additional places for Harbor Lights residents to isolate if necessary.

“I have family and friends there that are counting on us to do the best job we can, and we are,” Victorino said.

When asked during the news conference Monday about reports on social media that the county could issue stricter guidelines for residents as Maui’s cases continue to grow, Victorino responded that “people can say what they want to say.”

Victorino said the county is “keeping an eye very closely” on the cases, but added, “I see no reason in changing the game plan.” But he said it would be “good prudent action” if people want to limit their own movements and interactions.

The mayor said he and other officials had warned about an increase in cases if people were not careful.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 cases at Maui Memorial Medical Center remained steady Monday with 13 patients, the same as last week, according to Maui Health spokeswoman Tracy Dallarda. While several patients have been discharged since then, new patients also have been admitted. None of the COVID-19 patients are on ventilators, Dallarda added.

Since Dec. 29, the hospital has tested more than 400 employees and providers and all have been negative for the virus. The hospital will continue testing, Dallarda said.

A second COVID-19 isolation unit remains open and will be as long as community spread continues, she added. The second unit was added Wednesday as the hospital saw a “steady rise of positive patients.”

Maui Health is continuing vaccination efforts and has so far inoculated nearly 2,000 employees and providers. The second dose of the vaccine will be administered this week, Dallarda said.

She added that the hospital was scheduled to receive its third tray of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Monday, which would include 975 doses. Vaccination clinics will also continue throughout the month.

Last week, Maui Health vaccinated its employees on Lanai, as well as residents and community providers such as first responders. There was about 60 appointments, but 95 people ended up showing up.

“We had to get more doses flown over and quick,” Dallarda said.

She thanked AMR Supervisor David Mendosa and AMR Helicopter Pilot Jesse Van Hook, who made the helicopter transport possible “and did so in less than an hour of our request.”

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