China reports first COVID-19 deaths in more than a year
BEIJING — China’s health authorities reported two COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, the first since January 2021, as the country battles its worst outbreak in two years driven by a surge in the highly transmissible omicron variant.
Understaffing leaves after-school programs with unmet demand
The return to classrooms for the nation’s schoolchildren has not meant a return to work for many of their parents who, with workdays that outlast school days, are finding crucial after-school programs in short supply.
Samoa goes on lockdown: Two years into pandemic, nation faces its first COVID outbreak
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Samoa will go into lockdown starting today as it faces its first outbreak of COVID-19 after a woman who was about to leave the country tested positive.
Japanese are eager to visit
With Japan dropping its emergency COVID-19 restrictions next week, visitors from the country could start to return to Hawaii en masse as soon as next month.
DOH: 1,092 new COVID cases statewide over the past seven days
Just over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Hawaii between March 9 and March 16, according to state Department of Health data.
World economy faces supply hit as China battles COVID again
The global economy — already struggling with war in Ukraine and the stagflation risks it’s fanning — is bracing for greater disruption as China scrambles to contain its worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
US funeral assistance for COVID tops $2B, more eligible
WASHINGTON — The federal government has provided more than $2 billion to help cover funeral costs for more than 300,000 families of people who died from COVID-19, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday as it launches a new campaign to raise awareness about the aid to eligible families. More than 965,000 people have died in the U.S. from the virus.
China battles multiple outbreaks, driven by stealth omicron
TAIPEI, Taiwan — China banned most people from leaving a coronavirus-hit northeastern province and mobilized military reservists Monday as the fast-spreading “stealth omicron” variant fuels the country’s biggest outbreak since the start of the pandemic two years ago.
2 years into pandemic, world takes cautious steps forward
PORTLAND, Ore. — With COVID-19 case numbers plummeting, Emily Safrin did something she hadn’t done since the pandemic began two years ago: She put her fears aside and went to a concert.
WHO says COVID boosters needed, reversing previous call
GENEVA — An expert group convened by the World Health Organization said Tuesday it “strongly supports urgent and broad access” to booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine amid the global spread of omicron, capping a reversal of the U.N. agency’s repeated insistence last year that boosters weren’t necessary and contributed to vaccine inequity.
Ige: Mask mandate to end March 25
Gov. David Ige’s last COVID-19 restriction for the state will end March 25.
COVID can shrink the brain as much as a decade of aging, study finds
Even a mild case of COVID-19 can damage the brain and addle thinking, scientists found in a study that highlights the illness’s alarming impact on mental function.
Death toll nears 6 million as pandemic enters its 3rd year
BANGKOK — The official global death toll from COVID-19 is on the verge of eclipsing 6 million — underscoring that the pandemic, now in its third year, is far from over.
As vaccine demand falls, states are left with huge stockpile
As demand for COVID-19 vaccines collapses in many areas of the U.S., states are scrambling to use stockpiles of doses before they expire and have to be added to the millions that have already gone to waste.
Connors: COVID fraud crackdown a priority
The top federal law enforcer in Hawaii said Wednesday that President Joe Biden’s announced crackdown on those responsible for stealing billions in coronavirus relief funds is a priority for her as well.
Getting back to ‘normal’
With gathering sizes no longer limited on the Big Island, businesses are eager to return to normalcy but still face staffing woes.
Ige: Safe Travels program will end March 25
HONOLULU — Hawaii plans to lift its COVID-19 quarantine requirement for travelers this month, meaning that starting on March 26 those arriving from other places in the U.S. won’t have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to avoid sequestering themselves for five days.
Honolulu to end vaccine proof mandate for eateries, gyms
HONOLULU — Honolulu will no longer require businesses including restaurants and fitness centers to verify employees and customers are fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test.
Pandemic fears are fading along with omicron: AP-NORC poll
Omicron is fading away, and so are Americans’ worries about COVID-19.
Roth lifts all county COVID restrictions
Mayor Mitch Roth Monday afternoon announced the end to all Hawaii County emergency rules related to COVID-19.
