State health officials reported Hawaii’s first COVID-19 related death since May 3.
The death of an elderly Honolulu man was announced late Friday by the COVID-19 Joint Information Center bringing the state’s death toll since Feb. 28 to 18. Twelve of the deaths have been on Oahu and six on Maui.
“This is the worst way to emphasize the need for all of us to continue safe practices such as physical distancing, wearing of masks, and hand washing,” said Gov. David Ige said in a statement. “We must protect our kupuna and others who are at high risk, by practicing personal responsibility, especially around others outside our own immediate family or household.”
Also Friday, officials reported 17 new cases of COVID-19, bringing Hawaii’s case total to 866.
Of the new cases, 14 were Oahu residents, one was a Kauai resident and two were Hawaii residents diagnosed outside of the state, according to the center. Fifteen of the cases are adults and two are “pediatric” cases
With Friday’s new cases, Oahu has no recorded 608 positive COVID-19 cases and Kauai 34. Maui’s is unchanged at 120.
Hawaii Island has reported 86 cases since Feb. 28. All but two of those persons who’ve tested positive for the novel coronavirus had been released from isolation as of noon Friday.
Of the 866 Hawaii residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, 705 of those cases have recovered and been released from isolation. Statewide, 109 patients have required hospitalization, including two on Hawaii Island.