There is COVID-19 testing today at Pahoa Regional Park from 9 until 1. If you have been exposed to somebody who has COVID-19, if you were at a large gathering with many without masks and no distancing, if you are in contact with large numbers of people (such as store workers, health care workers, police, fire), if you have symptoms, if you do not have symptoms — you are urged to get tested.
Hawaii County Civil Defense, the Mayor’s office, and Premier Medical Group are teaming up to offer COVID-19 at several sites in East Hawaii, because of the wide community spread of the virus on the island–especially in East Hawaii.
There is no shame in having COVID-19. The shame is if it is spread to others more vulnerable in the community.
Talmadge Magno of Hawaii County Civil Defense said the plan is to offer testing again Friday in Pahoa, with details on that coming soon. Magno said there will also be testing in Kea’au, most likely on Thursday and Saturday. Again, details on where and times will be posted as soon as they are known. The county wants to offer numerous testing sites in order to get the most people possible tested and not have any site too crowded. Magno said they’re working to confirm availability of the testing sites.
Everybody coming to be tested must wear a face mask of some kind. In addition, if you have insurance, please bring the information, but insurance is not required.
Mayor Harry Kim has said it’s important to provide the testing and for the maximum number of people to get tested in order to be able to find out who has the virus and help them get isolated and properly cared for.
The number of cases more than tripled in the month of August. On August 1, the island’s case count was 115 with zero active cases. The Big Island as of Tuesday at noon had 190 active cases, with 383 cumulative. Almost all of the cases have not been caused by visitors or travel, but have been spreading within the community. And most are in East Hawaii at this time.
This map shows the cases added over the last 28 days. Any area in white has added zero cases over the past 28 days. Anything in yellow has added up to 25 new cases in the past 28 days. Zip code 96749 (Kea’au/Pahoa) has added 26 to 50 new cases in the past 28 days. Zip code 96720 (Hilo) has added between 51 and 150 cases in the past 28 days.
This map, from the State Health site, shows total cases on the island. Anything in white has had zero cases, ever. Anything in yellow has had a total of 1-25 cases. Upper Puna, in goldenrod, has had 26 to 50 total cases. Kailua-Kona and lower Puna, in bronze, have each had between 51 and 150 total cases. Hilo, in red, has had a total of more than 150 cases.
The entire state has seen a surge, but Hawaii Island has the largest case count of any neighbor island. O’ahu has more than 5,000 active cases.
