Hawaii reports first cases of virus spreading in community
Audrey McAVOY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 8 months AGO
UPDATES THAT A FEW PASSENGERS WERE ALLOWED OFF THE SHIP FRIDAY - The Maasdam, operated by Holland America Line, is docked in Honolulu Harbor, for a re-supply Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Six Hawaii residents were allowed to leave the cruise ship and two other U.S. citizens were allowed to disembark for medical reasons. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
UPDATES THAT SOME PASSENGERS WERE ALLOWED OFF FRIDAY - People are seen aboard the Maasdam cruise liner while it is docked in Honolulu Harbor, for a resupply Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Six Hawaii residents were allowed to leave the cruise ship and two other U.S. citizens were allowed to disembark for medical reasons. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
UPDATES THAT SOME PASSENGERS WERE ALLOWED OFF FRIDAY - Two people are seen aboard the Maasdam cruise ship while it is docked in Honolulu Harbor for a re-supply Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Six Hawaii residents were allowed to leave the cruise ship and two other U.S. citizens were allowed to disembark for medical reasons (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
A Honolulu police officer informs beachgoers the park is closed and they must leave the area in Waikiki, Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Honolulu closed all public parks and recreation areas Friday until the end of April in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. While the parks are closed, access to the shoreline was not shut off. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
A beachgoer uses a sanitary wipe to clean off a bench before sitting down in Waikiki, Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Honolulu closed all public parks and recreation areas Friday until the end of April in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
With beachgoers in the background, yellow caution tape is wrapped across an area of Waikiki, Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Honolulu closed all public parks and recreation areas Friday until the end of April in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
A worker sprays sanitizer on a light post Friday, March 20, 2020, in the Waikiki area of Honolulu. Honolulu closed all public parks and recreation areas Friday until the end of April in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
State officials and a medical crew are seen near the Maasdam cruise ship while it is docked in Honolulu Harbor for a re-supply Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Six Hawaii residents were allowed to leave the cruise ship and two other U.S. citizens were allowed to disembark for medical reasons. While there are no positive cases of coronavirus on the ship, state transportation officials declined to allow any other passengers off the ship. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
As beachgoers are seen in the background, yellow caution tape wrapped across Waikiki, Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Honolulu closed all public parks and recreation areas Friday until the end of April in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Many beachgoers simply went under the security tape to access the beach and shoreline. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Beachgoers take pictures on a sea wall in Waikiki, Friday, March 20, 2020, in Honolulu. Honolulu closed all public parks and recreation areas Friday until the end of April in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Yellow security tape wrapped across Waikiki as police and other officials informed beachgoers to leave the area. Many beachgoers simply went under the security tape to access the beach and shoreline. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
House Speaker Scott Saiki, at podium in center, speaks to reporters while flanked by representatives and senators at the Hawaii State Capitol on Monday, March 16, 2020. Hawaii lawmakers are indefinitely suspending the current state legislative session to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)
HONOLULU (AP) — Two people who haven't traveled outside Hawaii and haven't had any contact with people who have traveled tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities said Friday as they announced the number of people with the disease has risen to 37.
Until Friday, all those who tested positive had traveled out of state or had close contact with someone who did. The two new cases, both on Oahu, indicates the virus is now circulating in Hawaii or that there is local community transmission, officials said.
"It's beginning, it's started," said Bruce Anderson, the director of the state Department of Health. The two non-travel cases are not connected to each other, said Dr. Sarah Park, the state's epidemiologist.
The numbers came as a growing number of leaders urged Gov. David Ige to take a tougher stance on travelers to prevent the spread of the disease.
The governor earlier this week asked travelers to postpone their vacations for the next 30 days.
But House Speaker Scott Saiki, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, a Senate special committee on the virus and the Honolulu City Council have all called on Ige to impose a two-week quarantine on arriving passengers.
Asked if the governor agreed with these recommendations, Ige's spokeswoman Cindy McMillan said the governor wasn't disclosing details at this time.
“The steps we have taken so far have worked to protect the health and safety of our community. I am confident that the next steps that we are announcing soon will be effective, well-designed, and enhance our ability to deal with this threat as well as the economic impact it is,” Ige later said in a statement.
Saiki also called for “an immediate statewide shutdown” for the next 15 days.
The Honolulu City Council added the governor should order the Hawaii Tourism Authority and travel industry to immediately halt advertising campaigns luring travelers with discounted rates.
Ige has directed bars and clubs to close and for restaurants to only serve takeout or delivery meals. State and county officials have closed parks. Popular visitor destinations like the USS Arizona and Iolani Palace have closed.
Other states, including California, New York and Illinois, have ordered people to stay at home except to get essentials.
In Waikiki, the 818-room Hale Koa Hotel said it will close for at least the next few weeks in response to the coronavirus. There have been no reported cases of the disease at the hotel, which is operated by the U.S. military for service members, veterans and their families.
At Honolulu Harbor, six Hawaii residents were allowed to leave a cruise ship that arrived Friday after being turned away from other ports.
Hawaii officials previously said the 842 passengers on Holland America Line's Maasdam cruise ship would be allowed to disembark and catch flights home.
Some in Hawaii had called for protests to block cruise ship passengers from disembarking.
The state reversed course and later said the ship would only be allowed to re-fuel and re-supply in Honolulu.
The Harbors Division of the state Department of Transportation will only allow Hawaii residents to disembark cruise ships, according to the Senate Special Committee on COVID-19.
A Colorado woman with a fractured leg and her husband were also allowed to disembark the Maasdam with the Hawaii residents, officials said. They are being directed to self-quarantine.
There are no cases of coronavirus on the ship, officials and the cruise line have said.
Another cruise ship with no coronavirus cases that's been turned away by other ports, the Norwegian Jewel, is expected to arrive to Honolulu Sunday with about 1,700 passengers. There are about 15 Hawaii residents on that ship and they will also be directed to self-quarantine, said Tim Sakahara, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
Jewel passenger Paulette Stathakos, 72, who lives in Oahu's Ko Olina resort, said she's relieved she'll finally get to go home. She said she hasn't walked on land since Fiji about two weeks ago.
“I am happy. Oh, my God,” she said Friday from the ship. “I thought we were not going to be able to disembark in Honolulu."
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This story has been corrected to say that two of Hawaii's positive cases were unrelated to travel.
ARTICLES BY JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
COVID-19 surge pummels Hawaii and its native population
HONOLULU (AP) — Kuulei Perreira-Keawekane could barely breathe when she went to a Hawaii emergency room. Nausea made it difficult for her to stand and her body throbbed with pain.
COVID-19 surge pummels Hawaii and its native population
HONOLULU (AP) — Kuulei Perreira-Keawekane could barely breathe when she went to a Hawaii emergency room. Nausea made it difficult for her to stand and her body throbbed with pain.
COVID-19 surge pummels Hawaii and its native population
HONOLULU (AP) — Kuulei Perreira-Keawekane could barely breathe when she went to a Hawaii emergency room. Nausea made it difficult for her to stand and her body throbbed with pain.