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Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines have confirmed that a couple diagnosed with the coronavirus traveled on their flights in and around Hawaii earlier this month.
On Feb. 6, the couple, a husband and wife from Japan who are reportedly in their 60s, departed from Honolulu for Nagoya, Japan, on Delta flight 611, KHON2 reports. The State Department of Health [DOH] said that the couple previously arrived in the Aloha State on Jan. 28 and spent time in Maui until Feb. 3. That day, the couple traveled from Kahului to Honolulu on the island of Oahu on Hawaiian Airlines flight HA265, the airline confirmed.
In Oahu, the husband and wife stayed at the Grand Waikikian by Hilton Grand Vacations. It remains unclear at this time on which airline they traveled to Hawaii on and where they stayed while in Maui.
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On Feb. 3, the husband began experiencing “cold-like symptoms,” KHON2 reports. After returning home to Japan, he was hospitalized with a high fever, diagnosed with pneumonia and then tested positive for COVID-19, the World Health Organization’s official name for the illness.
On Feb. 13, the wife was reportedly hospitalized and tested for the coronavirus. She was ultimately diagnosed with the virus on Feb. 15.
Delta and Hawaiian Airlines have both since confirmed they are communicating with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the wake of the couple’s recent coronavirus diagnosis.
On Feb. 6, the couple from Japan departed Honolulu for Nagoya, Japan, on Delta flight 611. (iStock)
“We are aware of reports that two customers who are being treated for novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) recently traveled together between Honolulu and Nagoya and we are communicating with the appropriate public health officials, including [the] CDC and local Japanese authorities,” a Delta spokesperson said. “The health and safety of our customers and crews is our top priority, and in cooperation with Japanese health officials, we are proactively reaching out to customers who were onboard that flight as well as taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our customers and crew.”
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Hawaiian Airlines also released a similar statement.
While in Hawaii, the couple traveled from Kahului to Honolulu via Hawaiian Airlines flight HA265. (iStock)
“Today the CDC asked us for information regarding HA265 from Kahului to Honolulu on Feb. 3, 2020, which transported a Japanese visitor who had since become ill and, upon his return to Japan on another carrier later in the week, was diagnosed with COVID-19,” the airline said in a statement shared with the outlet on Feb. 16. “We extend our sincere wishes for this gentlemen’s full recovery and are cooperating with public health agencies to support notification of passengers as they determine is necessary. We are also in the process of reaching out to crew and agents who supported this particular flight to make sure that they are healthy and supported.”
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Moving forward, the State DOH is investigating possible close contacts as they work to determine the couple’s itinerary while in Hawaii to identify potential health risks.
Hilton Hotels has also confirmed that they are monitoring the situation following the couple’s stay at their property.
“The safety and health of our owners, guests and team members is our highest priority. Following the stay of a guest who was later diagnosed with COVID-19, the Grand Waikikian has implemented all recommendations of public health authorities,” a spokesperson for Hilton Grand Vacations told Fox News on Monday.
“While the Grand Waikikian remains open as usual, we are also working with all current and future guests at the Grand Waikikian to ensure their comfort and safety,” they said.
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A representative for Hawaiian Airlines was not immediately available to offer further comment.
As of Monday morning, the viral outbreak has infected more than 71,000 across the globe, while the death toll has risen to at least 1,770.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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