250 Hawaii National Guard members activated as state sees third COVID-19 death
Honolulu, HAWAII — Hawaii Gov. David Ige activated 250 Hawaii National Guard members Friday to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as the state confirmed its third coronavirus-associated death.
As of Friday afternoon, the state was reporting 319 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Gov. Ige said the National Guard members — from four units — will provide assistance to Hawaii emergency management officials and help to distribute critical supplies to health care professionals.
“The only way for Hawaii to deal with and survive this crisis is if we all work together,” Ige said.
The elderly Hawaii man whose death was announced Friday tested positive for coronavirus after returning from Washington state in early March.
The man’s family identified him as Art Whistler, 75, a well-known ethnobotanist in the state. He had been hospitalized at Kaiser Moanalua for weeks.
The state reported 34 new coronavirus cases statewide Friday.