6 new coronavirus cases on Oahu brings Hawaii’s statewide total to 682
DENNIS ODA /DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Volunteers at Hawaii Cedar Church in Kalihi distribute food for the needy and homeless on Monday. Hawaii’s tourism shutdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been effective in curbing the spread of the virus in the islands, but has also caused widespread unemployment and food insecurity.
Hawaii Department of Health officials said today that the state’s tally of coronavirus cases has risen to 682, up six from Monday.
Today’s new infection cases are all on Oahu. Health officials, who gave no details on the new cases, said, “Investigations are underway to determine how they may have contracted COVID-19.”
As of today, 44 infections in Hawaii are active cases with a total of 621 patients now classified by health officials as “released from isolation” since the start of the outbreak in February. Three new release cases on Oahu were reported today. The category counts those infected people who have met the criteria for being released from isolation.
About 92% of the Hawaii people who have been infected are now classified as released from isolation.
By county, Honolulu has seen 407 patients released from isolation, and Maui has had 113 patients released. Both Kauai and the Big Island have no active infection cases.
The state’s coronavirus death toll remains unchanged at 17. Eleven of the deaths have been on Oahu and six on Maui.
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Today’s statewide coronavirus cases total includes 448 on Oahu, 120 in Maui County, 81 on Hawaii island, and 21 in Kauai County, according to health officials. The total also includes 12 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside of the state.
>> RELATED: Church distributes food to homeless, residents in need in Kalihi
Of all the confirmed Hawaii cases since the start of the outbreak, 84 have required hospitalizations, with no new hospitalizations reported today, health officials said.
One hospitalization in the statewide count is a Hawaii resident who was diagnosed and treated outside the state, officials said. Of the 83 hospitalizations in the state, 59 have been on Oahu, 22 on Maui, and one each on the Big Island and Kauai.
Of the more than 56,173 coronavirus tests conducted so far by state and clinical laboratories in Hawaii, about 1.2% have been positive. Health officials counted 699 new test results in today’s tally.
Hawaii’s success in keeping the COVID-19 infection rate relatively low in comparison with many mainland states has increased pressure on government officials to reopen the state to tourism. However Gov. David Ige said the 14-day quarantine for trans-Pacific arrivals will remain in place at least through the end of June.
