Tue. 4/14 COVID-19 Daily Update
WED. 4/15: “SAFE HOTELS, SAFE HAWAII” LIVE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL
We are hosting a live Virtual Town Hall to discuss Safe Hotels, Safe Hawaii on our Local 5 Facebook Page tomorrow (Wed. 4/15), 5pm-6pm. Our Financial Secretary-Treasurer Eric Gill, HARIETT executive director James Hardway, and Dr. Scott Miscovich will address how hotels can provide safe lodging during pandemic conditions to ensure hotel worker and guest safety. Join the discussion tomorrow and ask questions!
Join the live Virtual Town Hall on our Facebook page tomorrow (Wed. 4/15), 5pm-6pm.
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Local 5 Promotes ‘Safe Hotels, Safe Hawaii’ Program (Civil Beat, 4/14/20)
A short article about Local 5’s guidance of best practices for cleaning to encourage safety for hotel workers, guests, and community in active hotels.
Hotel for Heroes tweaks program as demand grows (Star Advertiser, April 14, 2020)
The demand for Hotels for Heroes hotels rooms has been high enough that the program is limiting stays to seven days and asking hotels with unused room nights to return it to the program (the state is paying $85/night) for reallocation. 870 room nights have been reserved so far.
Treasury says 80 million people will get stimulus payments this week (KITV, April 14, 2020)
The Treasury Department said Monday that 80 million people will get their stimulus payments via direct deposit this week. The payments are being made first to people who have already filed their 2019 or 2018 tax returns, and who have also authorized a direct deposit. Other people—including those who haven’t filed returns, haven’t authorized direct deposit, or don’t receive Social Security—will have to wait longer for their payments. Treasury said Monday that it expects a “large majority of eligible Americans” will receive their payments within the next two weeks.
For those low-income people who are not normally required to file their returns, the Treasury has set up a new online tool to make it easier for them to input basic information in order to receive their payment.
Treasury is also expected to roll out a separate tool this week that will allow people to upload their Direct Deposit information so that they can receive their payment faster than waiting for a paper check to be mailed. Pacific Business News says that people in Hawaii can begin to see their $1,200 deposits starting Wednesday.
Hawaii’s unemployed workers grow increasingly desperate as check delays drag on (Hawaii News Now, April 14, 2020)
Since March, more than 230,000 have successfully filed for unemployment claims. Many are still waiting for their first check.
Under emergency order, Kauai and Honolulu to make non-medical face masks mandatory in public (Hawaii News Now, April 14, 2020)
Starting on Monday, April 20th, Honolulu and Kauai will mandate face masks in public and will rely on essential businesses to enforce the rule. Fabric Stores will be allowed to remain open as result so people can make their own face masks.
Reopening Hawaii’s Economy Will Likely Be Slow and Painful (Civil Beat, April 14, 2020)
As often discussed, economies won’t return to normal until we have vaccines or same day anti-gen tests for arriving visitors and widespread quick testing. The article references UH Economic Research Organization’s April 3rd brief: “How to control hawaii’s coronavirus epidemic and bring back the economy, the next steps.”
Marriott Giving CEO Big Raise While Business Craters, Tens Of Thousands Furloughed (ViewFromTheWing, April 14, 2020)
The CEO of Marriott gave up his $1.8 million “salary” for the year, but that doesn’t account for millions in other forms of potential income.
World: Cases: Cases: 1.98M (+80k). Deaths: 126k (+6k)
USA: Cases: 609k (+28k). Deaths: 26k (2.4k). Total Tested: 3.0M
Hawaii: Cases: 517(+13). Deaths: 9. Hospitalized: 45 (+1). Recovered: 333 (+18)
