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Lawmakers want to work with state officials to make sure Hawaii can weather potential impacts from the virus.

The lieutenant governor, a medical doctor, is “uniquely positioned” for the job, says the governor.

Tests so far are coming back negative. But officials expect the number of people being checked out will grow.

Festival of the Pacific Arts & Culture was planned for June but event organizers are putting it off as concern about COVID-19 grows.

Past training for outbreaks such as Ebola have hospitals equipped to deal with infectious diseases like the new coronavirus.

The state used the COVID-19 test for the first time Friday, confirming that a visitor from California had the common cold instead.

Gov. David Ige has requested emergency funding for state agencies as the COVID-19 threat grows.

The Legislature is paving the way to provide funding to the Department of Health for monitoring, quarantines and equipment, should it be needed.

As of Thursday, the Hawaii Health Department had yet to identify any suspect coronavirus cases in Hawaii, but continues to investigate the Hawaii vacation of a Japanese couple who later fell ill.

The state is working to identify anyone who may have come in contact with the man.