State adds 306 COVID, 10 Big Island–96 active on island!

The State Department of Health says the state today has 306 new COVID-19 cases, confirmed by testing.  That brings the state’s cumulative count to 7,566, with 5,140 active cases that State Health is supposed to monitor and contact trace.   O’ahu has 289 new cases today, bringing that island’s cumulative count to 6,915, with 4,884 active cases.

There has been concern about the State DOH’s ability to do the contact tracing necessary, and the DOH web site today says it has a total of 139 investigators, and 96 contact tracers on O’ahu (plus 10 on the Big Island).  Earlier this week City and County of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, speaking at a press conference with Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. Surgeon General, said the City and County will hire between 250 and 500 contact tracers, to supplement those on the DOH staff.   As Hawaii’s cases have grown, the White House COVID-19 Task Force contacted Mayor Caldwell to ask how they could help, and not only are they assisting with funding to hire the contact tracers, but the Federal Government is sponsoring free COVID-19 testing on O’ahu with a goal of adding 5,000 tests a day, or at least 70,000 in total.  Dr. Adams said it’s critical for the state to expand its contact tracing and its testing to get a handle on the spread of the virus, echoing local doctors and Lt. Gov. Dr. Josh Green.

In bad news, 4 additional people have died from COVID-19, bringing the state’s death toll to 55.

Hawaii Island has 10 new cases, bringing the island’s cumulative count to 253, with 96 active cases which State Department of Health must monitor and for whom they must contact trace.  The majority of the recent cases have been in the Hilo area, which is why this week the County sponsored two mass testing events in Keaukaha, one last Monday and one today at Kawananakoa Gym.

Hilo Medical Center Public Information Officer Elena Cabatu said as of noon today, there are 14 people who have been admitted to the facility with COVID-19, 4 in the ICU and 10 in the COVID Unit, with all the COVID-19 patients separated from others with barriers and other protection.  Of the seven residents of the Yukio Okotsu Veterans Home who have COVID-19, 2 are hospitalized and 5 are being cared for at “home,” at the Veterans Home in a special COVID-19 unit.

Kona Community Hospital Public Information Officer Judy Donovan says it has no COVID-19 cases, and Lynn Scully of North Hawaii Community Hospital says “nothing new to report.”  Both hospitals are prepared for any COVID-19 patients who need to be admitted.

Kaua’i again has no new cases, and Maui County has 7 new.

The State’s noon detailed report: