HIPHI COVID-19 Update 3/30

HIPHI continues to work and serve the needs of the community. As mentioned in our last email, HIPHI is committed to providing you weekly email updates on Mondays and a webinar on Wednesdays. Our first webinar featuring Lieutenant Governor Josh Green was a great success and had nearly 1,000 participants – you can watch it here if you missed it!

We are also excited to announce the launch of our COVID-19 webpage at hiphi.org/covid19! We are working to create a comprehensive directory of useful resources for the community. We recognize that information is constantly evolving and changing, so if you have any resources or suggested updates we should add, feel free to contact us at covidresponse@hiphi.org.

TAKE ACTION
COVID-19: Respond with Aloha is a statewide virtual response effort aimed at mobilizing immediate and on-going action to support community needs and address economic impacts related to COVID-19. Visit the site to list your organization’s volunteer needs and find opportunities to help.

In Hawai‘i and across the nation, there is a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our frontline workers. The Hawai‘i Medical PPE Exchange created an interactive map that tracks PPE need vs. demand. It connects hospitals and surgery centers with volunteers who are willing to donate PPEs.

FEDERAL UPDATES
The CARES Act, a $2 trillion coronavirus economic stimulus package, was signed into law on Friday, March 27. Provisions include direct cash payments, extension of unemployment benefits, and small business relief. For more specific information on the various programs, Senator Brian Schatz has resources on his website.

STATE UPDATES
Governor David Ige’s stay at home and work from home order started on March 25 and is in effect through April 30. Exceptions to the order include:

• Workers in healthcare services, grocery stores and pharmacies, food production and farming, public and private schools, restaurants offering take-out services, hotels and motels, construction, and essential government functions.
• Residents can leave their homes for various needs, including healthcare, food, medicine, gas, taking care of the elderly, minors, and those with disabilities, picking up educational materials for distance learning, receiving meals and any other related services, and outdoor exercise.
• This order means that you should not leave your house unless you need to. Don’t socialize with people outside your household (including family gatherings!), go to a friend’s house for dinner or invite a trusted friend over.

The Hawai‘i State House and Senate held separate COVID-19 informational briefings earlier today – watch the Senate one here. The House one will be uploaded to the Capitol website.

For the most up-to-date information, visit the Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION WEBINAR, APRIL 1

Missed the webinar? Watch it here.

UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL DISTANCING
Social distancing is ultimately about creating physical distance between people who don’t live together. At the community level, this means closing schools and workplaces and canceling events. For individuals, it means keeping six feet between you and others while in public and avoiding physical contact with people who do not share your home. Everyone should be limiting close contact, indoors and outdoors, to healthy household members only.

HCAN COVID-19 RESOURCE MAP

Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network has created a map to help connect people with services and resources during the COVID-19 outbreak.

PUBLIC HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK

We recognize that social distancing can take a toll on our mental health, especially during high-stress and anxiety-producing global public health emergencies. Studies have shown that physical activity reduces stress and improves mental health, and the infographic above provides tips on how to safely exercise outdoors. The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi has helpful guidelines for which outdoor areas are currently open under the new orders.
JOIN US FOR HOME OFFICE YOGA TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK!
MONDAY, APRIL 6, 12:15PM

We know many of you are working from home and may be needing some time for yourselves right about now. Join us for a virtual yoga session on Monday, April 6, from 12:15pm to kick off National Public Health Week. You’ve been using Zoom for meetings, now let’s use it to reset and focus on your health and wellness! All you need is your chair and some good energy. Please sign up here and spread the word to your networks. The session will be recorded, and we look forward to seeing as many folks as possible!