Welina mai e nā ʻohana o Kamehameha Hawaiʻi,

The health and safety of our students is our top priority. In that spirit, we are reaching out to you, our ʻohana, to provide updates on the coronavirus outbreakthat has dominated the headlines in recent days. The virus, which causes respiratory illness, originated in Wuhan, China with cases reported in 25 other countries and has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization.

To ensure the safety and well-being of our haumāna, faculty, staff, and families, Kamehameha Schools is carefully heeding the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, the CDC recommends that all non-essential travel to China be avoided. In following this recommendation, there will be no non-essential travel by KS staff and students to China or any other country that may receive a CDC level 3 warning.

We will continue to monitor health notices and take appropriate actions should further precautions necessitate additional steps or restrictions. However, at this time, no student or faculty/staff activities are affected by these restrictions.

Although cases have been reported in the U.S., no cases have been reported in Hawai’i. Should the coronavirus spread to affect our communities, we will follow protocols established by the Hawai’i State Department of Health.

Unlike influenza for which there is a vaccination, there is none for coronavirus. Because the coronavirus shares many of the same symptoms as influenza, public health authorities strongly advise members of the community who have not gotten their flu shot this year to do so. In addition to preventing or mitigating the severity of flu, this vaccine will simplify the evaluation of patients with flu-like symptoms in the event that we begin to see coronavirus cases in Hawai‘i.

We are following the situation closely and will provide further updates and guidance as needed.

‘O au iho nō me ke aloha nuʻukia ē,

M. Kāhealani Naeʻole-Wong
Poʻo Kula, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi