Hawai‘i COVID-19 Update

Science operations continue at Gemini North. At the time of the last e-newscast, cases of COVID-19 had spiked on Hawai‘i Island, there were a significant number of cases on the Hilo (east) side and it was clear that there was widespread community spread. Since that time, the spike in cases has subsided so we have increased the day crew presence on the mountain. The current operational phase is characterized by wide variations in the day to day count of new cases, with individual spikes in two locations on the Hilo and Kona sides respectively. Because those cases are limited to specific locations/institutions, we have made no further changes in the above arrangements but are monitoring the situation daily.