COVID-19 cases declining among Hawaii public school students and staff

Downward trending numbers of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii, along with vaccinations for teachers and other school staff, were reflected in the Department of Education’s weekly update on coronavirus infections, with only five new cases among students and employees for the week ending Friday.

The cases included one employee each in the Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua and Campbell-Kapolei complexes, and one student each in the Castle-Kahuku and Kailua-Kalaheo complexes. Another case was a student in the Campbell- Kapolei complex who hasn’t been on campus all year.

A state Senate bill would require the DOE to publish a weekly report with the names of schools where individuals had tested positive for the coronavirus, instead of just the school complex, as is the current practice. SB 811 also would require DOE to provide dates for when test results were reported to schools and when the individuals were last on campus.

State Sen. Michelle Kidani, (D, Mililani-Waikele-Kunia), who introduced the bill, said reporting cases by complex areas can worry parents, who have a right to know whether their children’s schools have been affected by COVID-19.

In written testimony, Education Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said identifying specific schools would hinder the DOE’s ability “to protect individua

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From Star Advertiser - February 21, 2021