The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard for Saturday, August 22, at 6:27 a.m.:

Worldwide cases:  23,009,629     Worldwide deaths: 800,566

U.S. cases:   5,638,633  U.S. deaths: 175,674

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 255,566 in the last 24 hours.  Deaths worldwide increased by more than 5,752.   The increases in cases and deaths have been around the same for weeks.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 49,620 cases in the last 24 hours.  In that time,  the number of reported deaths from  COVID-19 increased by 1,174.

Hawaii’s case count continues to rise.  As of Friday, the state’s cumulative case count had risen to 6,072 , with 3,954 active cases.  The Big Island has been seeing a big increase in cases, adding 13 cases on Friday, bringing the county’s active case count to 41.  Most of the new cases have been in Hilo.   There have been numerous reports of cases at businesses, a charter school, in an employee at the Hilo Courthouse — in other words, COVID-19 is widely spreading on the island, especially in the Hilo area.

Hilo Medical Center Public Information Officer Elena Cabatu said Friday that as of 5 p.m., the hospital had 8 people who had been admitted with COVID-19.   All those with COVID-19 are in a separate area, the “COVID Pod,” and the entire hospital is following strict COVID-19 precautions that have been in place and being refined since the start of the pandemic.

As of Friday, the hospital was still allowing one visitor per patient in the regular hospital wards (not the COVID-19 POD) from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.  Strict protocols are in place.

Kona Community Hospital as of Friday at noon had no COVID-19 patients and the spokesperson for North Hawaii Community Hospital said “We can’t say” in response to an inquiry about whether that facility has any COVID-19 patients.

The state has lost 45 people to COVID-19.

Late Friday, Hawaii County Civil Defense issued a message saying  Governor David Ige  has approved a new set of restrictions for the Big Island.  Group social gatherings are now limited to 10 people, whether indoors or outdoors.   At all gatherings, people must sit six feet apart.  The afternoon Civil Defense message says family groups are exempt.

For the most recent state detail, click here.