Today’s COVID-19 update from the State Department of Health shows another day with a 3-digit increase, this one adding 277 cases of COVID-19 to the state’s count.  The total cumulative cases now for Hawaii is 7,260, with 4,430 active cases that the State Department of Health must monitor and contact trace. 

In continuing bad news, two additional Hawaii residents have died from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 51. Both were men on O’ahu, one between 50 and 59, the other in the 60 to 69 age range.  This is the first time the State DOH has broken down the age of those over 60 who died, to give people a better sense of the risks–no matter the age.

The Big Island has added 23 new cases.  According to State Department of Health, only 150 have been released from isolation and monitoring, which means the DOH must now monitor 93 active cases of COVID-19 on the island.  This morning, Hilo Medical Center Public Information Officer Elena Cabatu reported there were 13 patients with COVID-19 in Hilo Medical Center, 5 in the Intensive Care Unit, isolated from other ICU patients,  and 8 in the “COVID-19 Pod.”  (For a conversation with Dan Brinkman, CEO of Hilo Medical Center, recorded yesterday with Island Conversations host Sherry Bracken, where he describes the hospital’s safety procedures, click here.)

Many of the Big Island cases are related to large memorial gatherings at the end of July.  Tomorrow, there will be free COVID-19 testing at Kawananakoa Gym in Keaukaha from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.   Mayor Harry Kim is urging everybody to get tested, especially if they were at the gatherings or have been with those at the gatherings.  It usually takes at least 5 days for the virus to develop enough after exposure so that it shows up in testing, and many people with COVID-19 have no symptoms.

There was also a large memorial gathering at Kahalu’u Beach on Sunday, August 23.  There are no reports of cases yet as a result of that gathering, but for anybody who was close to others and unmasked they should isolate themselves for 14 days in case they were exposed.  There are testing sites around the island in addition to the Keaukaha site for people who need tests.

Kaua’i again has zero new cases, and is holding steady at 56 cumulative. There is one new case in a Hawaii resident out of state.  Maui County added 8, and O’ahu added 245.

 

The State’s detailed noon report on August 26, 2020: