Hawaii recorded 109 new daily cases of COVID-19 today, the highest daily count since the pandemic reached Hawaii in February.
The state Department of Health, which processed 5,160 tests between Saturday and today, said it had anticipated the increase due to the closure of laboratories on Sunday and Monday after Hurricane Douglas. Labs typically process 1,000 to 2,000 tests daily.
“The dramatic increase in cases reported today was anticipated based on recent trends since the weekend of July 4, which continue,” said state health director Dr. Bruce Anderson in a press release.
The state is seeing increases in small and large social gatherings, including on beaches and parks, in homes and in workplaces, he said.
Health officials have identified multiple household groups due to house parties, birthday celebrations, Father’s Day and the Fourth of July, religious functions, and “coworkers sitting in protracted meetings while removing masks to eat or drinking, “as well as shopping, funeral events, gathering for drinks and socializing in bars, the DOH said.
The daily count includes 98 on Oahu, nine on Maui and two on Kauai. The number of positive cases across the state now stands at 1,863.
“We have also recently seen an increase in cases associated with bars, gyms and other establishments where physical distancing and masking are not practiced regularly. Based on the data collected on the cases through our investigations and follow-up contacts, we recommend that strategic steps be taken to further restrict the activities associated with these cases, “Anderson said.” Places where multiple groups have been identified, such as in bars and gyms, obviously they will be the target. “
Dozens of patients with COVID-19 have been hospitalized following numerous coronavirus outbreaks, including one in Kalihi among Pacific Islanders living in large multi-generational homes.
“The 109 cases are a serious sign that COVID-19 is about to move away from us, so we must take action immediately,” Lt. Governor Josh Green told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, adding that he is recommending the governor. David Ige immediately reduce the maximum meeting size to 10 and redouble efforts to require the use of masks for anyone outside of his immediate family. “That is the first rational decision to be made. We need people not to participate in any meeting of more than 10 periods, without exceptions. “
At this point, schools “will certainly have to delay opening due to respect for parents and teachers,” Green added until the Health Department has a “comprehensive health plan to keep them safe,” he added. “Until we see a comprehensive DOH plan, it’s difficult to justify opening schools.”
Urge DOH to hire 500 full-time contact trackers to identify and isolate any new cases of COVID-19 before the situation spirals out of control.
“Only with that type of army of contact trackers can they contain this surge,” he said. “It is serious because, although cases have been on the rise … it will soon exceed DOH’s ability to track and evaluate and then it will be out of control and we will simply be reacting in the hospital.”
Hospitals still have enough capacity, but “it’s going to get worrying,” according to Green.
The state has had 965 cases in the past 30 days, compared to 900 in the first 150 days, with about 10% of people needing to be hospitalized, he said.
Hawaii officials have raised the possibility of reversing recent moves to open up the economy after the state experienced an increase in daily cases over the past week: 64 new infections on Sunday, 73 on Saturday, 60 on Friday and 55 on Thursday.
Before Thursday, Hawaii’s daily record for new cases was 42 on July 11. On Monday and Tuesday the number dropped to 28 and 47, but only because state labs closed Sunday due to the threat from Hurricane Douglas.
The recent surge in coronavirus cases has prompted officials to consider reestablishing the 14-day inter-island travel quarantine, lifted on June 16.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is also calling for the closure of Oahu bars for three weeks; a mandate to wear masks both indoors and outdoors; and the limitation of social gatherings to 10 people or less.
“This is an ugly landmark that nobody wanted to see in Hawaii. It may be time for another wake-up call on what we are all doing individually to further prevent the spread of this virus, “said Dr. James Ireland, community physician.” At this point, we really cannot blame the tourists and most companies, who have made changes to protect us. This comes down to individual responsibility. “
