The Maui News

Since the state Department of Education began publicly reporting COVID-19 cases eight months ago, Maui County public schools have seen 79 cases among employees and students, according to a report by the DOE.

The Hana-Lahainaluna-Lanai-Molokai complex reported a total of 44 cases from June 26 through Friday. The Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui complex reported a total of 35 cases during the same time period.

Friday’s report also noted two cases of students in the same household testing positive for the virus in the Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui complex. The cases were reported Feb. 5.

On Thursday, two students in the same household in the Hana-Lahainaluna-Lanai-Molokai complex had their cases classified as “probable” by the state Department of Health. The cases were not included in the case count for the week or the cumulative case count, the report said. The school was not specified.

Kaunakakai Elementary Principal Daniel Espaniola sent a letter to parents and guardians the same day notifying them of cases involving two students from the same household; one was last on campus Feb. 4 and 5, while the other was last on campus Feb. 8.

“I’m in contact with the family and have sent our aloha for a speedy recovery,” Espaniola said. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy, I will not be sharing additional information.”

The school shifted to distance learning on Friday to allow for cleaning and investigation before returning to in-person classes on Tuesday, according to the letter.

Espaniola said the school was also notifying potential close contacts and working with the state Department of Health on next steps.

In total, the DOE has seen 513 cases from June 26 to Friday. Of those, 96 cases had no DOE facility impact, meaning there was no exposure on campus because the person had not been on campus for two weeks or longer prior to diagnosis.

The DOE has been tracking the cases without facility impacts beginning on Sept. 12.

Across the state, the Campbell-Kapolei complex on Oahu had the highest cumulative number of cases, with 83 from June 26 to Friday. Complexes with the fewest COVID-19 positive cases were Hilo-Waiakea and Kau-Keaau-Pahoa, both on Hawaii island. Both complexes have seen seven positive cases each for the same time period.

The report notes that the DOE case count should not be used to determine community spread or sources of an outbreak or cluster. It is informal data based on information provided to the state DOE’s COVID-19 Core Response Team by individuals, parents, campus visitors and service providers.