As second-worst hit by COVID-19 in Hawaii, Filipino community continues to be resilient

On Sept. 8, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell extended Oahu’s second lockdown order until Sept. 23. The “Stay-at-Home, Work-from-Home” order was supposed to be lifted on Sept. 10. “The one thing we’re not going to do a second time is rush to reopen and then have a second spike. We’re going to be much more cautious, much more conservative,” Caldwell said at a news conference. Non-essential businesses such as retailers, salons and gyms are closed while restaurants continue to operate for takeout orders only. Social gatherings are still banned. On the same day Caldwell announced the extended lockdown, the state Department of Health also announced the total number of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii surpassed the 10,000 mark. As of Sept. 16, the statewide total of COVID-19 cases is 10,946 with 103 fatalities. Twenty percent of the total cases are Filipinos even though they only make up 16% of the state population. This also makes the Filipino community the second highest in COVID-19 infection rates in Hawaii, following Pacific Islanders (30%).

Full article published on Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, a local English-language Filipino newspaper in Honolulu, Hawaii.