Today 23 new cases of COVID-19 were reported for Hawaiʻi, including –19 new cases on Oʻahu Island, one on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, and two new cases of Hawaiʻi residents who were diagnosed out of state. This brings the state count to 1,243 cases in Hawaii over the course of the pandemic.
The Health Department’s Division of Disease Outbreak Control today reported three more deaths of Hawaii residents from coronavirus. These three new cases bring the total number of COVID-19-related deaths reported in Hawaii to 22 since the pandemic began.
Saturday had the highest number of reported cases in a single day (42) since DOH began tracking cases in late February.
To date, 911 people (74.6%) have recovered, including 120 (93%) recovery in Maui County. There are currently 310 active cases in the state, including nine in Maui.
The breakdown by island includes the following:
- Oʻahu: 942 confirmed positive (660 released from isolation);
- Maui County: 135 confirmed positive (120 released from isolation);
- Island of Hawaii: 102 confirmed positive (92 released from isolation); and
- Kauaʻi: 43 confirmed positive (39 released from isolation).
- Hawaii residents who were diagnosed outside of Hawaii: 22 confirmed positive.
- Pending cases, where the island of residence has not been determined: 0
The Hawaii State Department of Health reports that 911 people were released from isolation; and 128 cases (10%) that have required hospitalization. A total of 1,138 patients (92%) were residents.
Of the 135 cases in Maui County, at least 119 have been released from isolation and 25 have required hospitalization. According to current numbers, there are nine active cases in Maui County.
To date, there have been 22 COVID-19-related deaths in Hawaii, including 15 in Oʻahu, six in Maui County, and a Kauaʻi resident who was hospitalized in Arizona. Hawaiʻi has the lowest mortality rate in the US with 1.3 deaths per 100,000.
In Maui County, cases starting in the last 28 days have been in the Lahaina, Makawao, Kīhei and Wailuku ZIP Codes. Of the 133 cases documented in Maui County during the pandemic, Wailuku, Kahului, and Lahaina had the majority of cases (more than 20 cases each); followed by Kīhei (11-20 cases); Makawao and Spreckelsville (6-10 cases); and Kula, Hāna, Haʻikū and Molokaʻi (1-5 cases each).
METERaui county has six COVID-19 related deaths
- Maui reported its first COVID-19-related death on Monday, April 6, of an adult man over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions and exposure to travelers.
- Maui’s second death was announced on Wednesday, April 8, and was an unattended death.
- A third death in Maui County reportedly occurred on April 7, but was reported in the state count on Friday, April 10. The third case involved an older person who was in the chronic care unit.
- The fourth case was confirmed on April 19 and was an adult male from Washington state in the 40-59 age group who had no prior medical conditions. State health authorities say the man’s exposure history may be related to travel. The man had been hospitalized for an extended period in serious condition at the Maui Memorial Medical Center.
- Maui’s fifth case occurred on Monday, April 20, and involved a man who had underlying health problems. He had been in the Maui Memorial Medical Center hospital since late last year. The death of this person is considered related to the MMMC group.
- Maui’s sixth case was reported on May 3, 2020. The case involved a woman, age 60 and older, with underlying medical conditions. She had been in the Maui Memorial Medical Center hospital since late February. Her infection occurred in mid-April. “COVID-19 is not believed to be the leading cause of death, due to her other serious illnesses, but it may have been a contributing factor to her death,” health officials said.
Quarantine updates:
Hawaii News Now reports that Governor Ige has announced plans to extend the state’s planned implementation of a pre-trip testing program by at least a month until the end of August. The announcement was reportedly made at a meeting of the COVID-19 Chamber Select Committee on Economic and Financial Preparedness. Governor Ige is expected to address the media about his plans during a press conference at 2:30 this afternoon.
Two weeks ago, the state announced plans to begin a pre-trip COVID-19 test program on August 1, 2020. Under the program, trans-Pacific travelers could be tested 72 hours before arrival. According to the program, those who tested negative for the virus would have been allowed to waive the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine. With three weeks before the program is implemented, details on logistics have yet to be released.
Mayor Victorino expressed reservations about the reopening of trans-Pacific travel and the deployment of the state’s pre-trip testing program on the previously announced date of August 1.
On Friday, Mayor Victorino made comments during a press conference saying: “Many of us have seen waves not only in Oʻahu but on the mainland. Many of them are major markets, for example California. So the concern is there; There is no doubt in my mind. And so, for most of us we are facing a date after August 1; however, if things were to change quite substantially and quickly on the other side of the coin, as we did about a month ago when we had very few cases here in Hawaiʻi, and many of the states we are talking about now .. They were doing well because they were closed. They were on orders to stay home. If we see changes in that area and the numbers start to drop, we can reconsider another date. “
Mayor Victorino went on to say: “I would hate to put a date that forces people to say ‘well, you said this.’ Let me tell you for less of a better term, I’m going to give you my best estimate … September 1st. Now, if something else happens and can be done before, safely with the well-being and health of our people, I would consider it at that time. But the call will be made by the state, the governor and the Department of Health, and General Hara and that group of people with our consultation, of course. ”
On Tuesday June 16, a separate quarantine was lifted for inter-island travel. This applies only to air travel within the state, and anyone arriving in the state would still be subject to a 14-day quarantine as described above. By lifting the inter-island quarantine, the state has implemented thermal detection, a new inter-island travel form, and a stronger contact tracking program.
The state is also reviewing several different companies as part of an acquisition process to implement a facial recognition program at the airport as part of its evaluation process for COVID-19.
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