State health officials Thursday morning announced 55 new cases of COVID-19 and a 26th coronavirus-related death.
Fifty of the new cases were on Oahu, three on Hawaii Island and two on Maui, according to the COVID-19 Joint Information Center.
This is the highest number of cases reported on a single day since the Department of Health (DOH) began tracking cases in late February. The previous highest one-day count was on July 11 with 42 cases.
“These cases represent people from all walks of life and varied professions, indicating the apparent challenges of maintaining safe practices is widespread across the state,” said Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson said.
Anderson also extended condolences to the family and friends of the 26th person to succumb to coronavirus, an elderly Oahu woman. The center said her death was reported to DOH late Wednesday.
The new cases bring the state’s total case count to 1,490 since Feb. 28. To date, Oahu has accounted for the majority of the cases at 1,167, followed by Maui County with 139 cases, Hawaii County with 117 and Kauai County with 43. Twenty-two residents have tested positive while out of the state.
Of the Hawaii residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, 1,125 of those cases have since recovered and been released from isolation. That includes 107 of the 117 cases on Hawaii Island.
Statewide, 155 patients have required hospitalization, including four on Hawaii Island.
Of the 26 deaths reported to date among Hawaii residents, 19 were on Oahu, six were on Maui and one was a Kauai resident receiving treatment in Arizona at the time he died.
DOH said it continues to track and investigate numerous clusters.
“Most cases are occurring as a result of people socializing and getting together either with work colleagues, extended family, or friends in multiple type of settings — without wearing face coverings or distancing. I continue to hope all in our community will maintain safe practices, but unfortunately the persistence of new cases would argue against that,” state Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said.
According to the center, people should be practicing consistently:
Physical distancing of 6 feet or more when around anyone outside your own household
Wear masks when in public and/or unable to physical distance
Frequent hand washing
Stay home when sick
“Regrettably,” Park added, “many of the cases we’ve seen in recent weeks suggest that one or more of the safe practices were not being followed by individuals or groups of people. Hawaii has done better and can do better; we all need to remember to maintain the safe practices in this COVID world.”
According to the center, Anderson and Park continue to consult with and advise Gov. David Ige and his leadership team on the nexus between the public health crisis and the need to restore Hawaii’s economy as quickly as possible.
“Unfortunately, if we can’t get these numbers headed in the right direction, we may be facing the re-implementation of restrictions. No one wants that to happen and this is why it is so critical that everyone does their part, every day, everyplace in practicing safety for the sake of the health of all in Hawaii,” Anderson said.