By Dan Hounsell

Even as widely available vaccines for COVID-19 are bringing the pandemic under greater control nationwide, many people have not been vaccinated, and workplace conditions remain in which the illness can be transmitted. 

Consider Hawaii, where a cluster of more than a dozen COVID-19 cases on Molokai surfaced last week, according to The Molokai Dispatch. The series of positive cases originated from Maui construction contractors working in a non-clinical, closed area of Molokai General Hospital. They tested positive after their arrival while working alongside Molokai workers.

A hospital official confirmed the area of the hospital where they were working was separated and sealed off from patients and hospital staff. The air handling system was disconnected, and there was no air exchange between the work area and any parts of the hospital.

But Rep. Lynn DeCoite confirmed the virus has infected family members and community members.