The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard for Tuesday, August 25, at 5:28 a.m.:

Worldwide cases:  23,694,646  Worldwide deaths: 814,354

U.S. cases:  5,746,940  U.S. deaths: 177,536

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 222,579 in the last 24 hours.  Deaths worldwide increased by more than 4,607.   Although cases and deaths continue to grow, they are growing at a smaller daily number than they have over the past couple of months.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 37,101 cases in the last 24 hours.  In that time,  the number of reported deaths from  COVID-19 increased by 635.   This is a decline in the number of daily increases over the previous weeks.  For several weeks cases increased at 50,000 or more a day, and deaths attributed to COVID-19 were increasing at around 1,000 per day.

Cases in the state and on the Big Island have been increasing at an alarming rate, putting Hawaii into the Federal Government’s designation of “red” along with ten other states that are showing high rates of spread of the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19.

As of Monday at noon, State Department of Health reported the total case count in the state was 6,769 with 4,458 active cases.

Yesterday Hawaii Island added 9 new cases.  As of noon Monday, the State Department of Health reported 65 active cases of COVID-19 on the island out of 209 cumulative.  Hawaii County Civil Defense is acknowledging that several cases are the result of large memorials held in Hilo and Puna at the end of July, with many attendees, few masks, and no physical distancing.  All health and government officials urge people to follow the law to wear masks in public and maintain distance from others.

Hilo Medical Center Public Information Officer Elena Cabatu confirmed there are 10 people with COVID-19 in the hospital as of yesterday at noon.  On August 11, HMC had no COVID-19 patients and had not since the start of the pandemic when HMC had one patient evacuated from the Diamond Princess.  CEO Dan Brinkman at a briefing on August 11 said the hospital has been stocking up on Personal Protective Equipment and has the ability to handle the patients it has, including COVID-19 patients.  Later today, New West Broadcasting’s Sherry Bracken will talk with Mr. Brinkman about the current situation at the hospital and post that interview at kwxx.com