State Department of Health says the state has 202 new cases of COVID-19.   The state has a total of 3,958 cumulative COVID-19 cases, with 2,255 active cases.

Hawaii County has 2 new, and has a cumulative 135 cases, with 16 active cases.

Maui County added 1, and Kaua’i added 2.  O’ahu added 197 cases, bringing that island’s cumulative count to 3,558.  O’ahu has at least 2,182 active cases.

As of noon today, DOH has confirmed that 38 Hawaii residents have died from COVID-19, an increase in 4 since yesterday (although DOH did announce yesterday afternoon there were 2 more that would be in today’s count).  The two deaths reported yesterday were in men 60 or older.  Today’s reported deaths were two men between 40 and 59.

The State’s Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Josh Green said in recently televised interviews that the transmission rate of COVID-19 in the state is the highest rate in the nation.  He said as of this morning there were 166 people in the hospital.

State DOH says there are multiple clusters of infections on O’ahu, including at 5 restaurants, and Honolulu Hale, which found an employee potluck was the source of transmission to 11 people.  Update:  Alexander Zannes, Public Information for the City and County of Honolulu, said:  According to our records it was not the source. DOH relayed to us that a potluck was a possible source of transmission, however we have found that to not be the case. The event we assume they were referring to did not result in any positive cases. Also everyone ordered bentos that were separated from one another, people wore face masks, and were directed not to gather.

Green said the State Department of Health is ramping up contact tracing, and has added to the management team to help accomplish that.  He said DOH has told him that they are ramping up to at least 200 people, and going to establish a tracing center.  Although leadership at the State DOH (Dr. Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park) have repeatedly said the department has 105 contact tracers, State Senators in a visit last Friday found only a few tracers, some with nearly 200 cases to trace.

On Monday,  the Hawaii Government Employees Association — HGEA– filed a grievance with the State, saying there were only 15 tracers on O’ahu.  The press release said “HGEA implores our government leaders to put all differences aside, hire sufficient contact tracers, and promptly implement policies that will get this surge under control. The health of our entire community is at stake.”

Although Gov. David Ige previously announced the State will reopen to tourism Sept. 1, if people can present a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival, he has offered no additional details to date.  The Governor’s last press conference focused on COVID-19 was last Thursday, Aug. 6.

The State’s detailed noon report: