After nearly six weeks of elevated numbers of positive COVID-19 cases, the State Health Department says Hawai‘i is beginning to turn the corner and regain control of the spread of the disease on all islands.

On July 29, the Hawai‘i Department of Health reported the number of cases had exceeded 100 for the first time. By early August, the daily number exceeded 200.   Right now, the State Department of Health reports the state with 10,292 total cases, and around 7,022 active cases.  Yesterday’s new case count was 169.

The Big Island had 115 cumulative cases on August 1, with no active cases.  As of Thursday, the island had 541 cumulative cases and around 278 active cases.  State DOH also reported on Thursday that there were 7 new “probable” but not yet confirmed cases for the Big Island.

Although the Department of Health says that statewide the virus is becoming under control, on the Big Island there have been 11 deaths from COVID-19 since August 29.  But yesterday’s case count increase was 8, and the day before 12, so the Big Island’s trend is going in the right direction.

“This didn’t happen by accident or wishful thinking; it has been a collaborative effort. There is evidence the initiatives of the health department in partnership with other organizations such as the Hawai‘i National Guard and the University of Hawai‘i and the diligence of those in the community to wear their face masks and practice physical distancing are all working to decrease the number of cases in our state,” said Bruce Anderson, director of the Hawai‘i Department of Health. “We are all doing our part to decrease disease transmission and flatten the curve.”

Anderson added a word of precaution: “But we cannot let our guard down again. If there are surges in the future, we can expect them to be smaller and last for a shorter duration because of our system in place to control the spread more rapidly.”

He noted living with COVID-19 is the new normal and maintaining control of the disease will require ongoing prevention, detection, containment, and treatment work by the Department of Health and its partners. Equally, it will require the ongoing commitment from individuals who test positive or those who have come in close contact with them to cooperate with contact tracers and disease investigators and to follow directives on isolation and quarantine.

Anderson announced last week that he will retire on September 15, and Gov. David Ige has appointed Emergency Room physician Dr. Libby Char as the new Director.

Photo is State Health Director Bruce Anderson at an August 18 press briefing.