The state Department of Health on Friday reported a new single-day record of 60 new COVID-19 infections, just one day after the state announced 55 new cases of the novel coronavirus.
With the new cases, the state has now seen 1,549 people fall ill with the disease and 26 deaths since the end of February. The majority of the cases announced Friday were again on the island of Oahu (58), with one case on Maui, and the other case a Hawaii resident diagnosed out of state.
“We’re concerned that this relatively high level of cases is persisting on Oahu. Some of the cases we’re reporting today are associated with existing clusters, known cases and household spread, but others are new, unassociated cases that indicate increasing community spread,” State Health Director Bruce Anderson said. “In contact tracing, we continue to identify cases connected with gatherings or just hanging out with close friends. Until we all recognize the importance of physically distancing from people outside of their households and wearing masks, we face the prospect of even higher numbers.”
Through noon Friday, Oahu has accounted for the majority of the cases at 1,225, followed by Maui County with 141 cases, Hawaii County with 117 and Kauai County with 43. Twenty-three residents have tested positive while out of the state.
Of the Hawaii residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, 1,148 of those cases have since recovered and been released from isolation. That includes 108 of the 117 cases on Hawaii Island.
Statewide, 156 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.
Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist, said Friday the department is bringing on additional contact tracers to assist with case investigations and contact tracing.
“As we have over 400 contact tracers now trained to augment existing staff resources, we have sufficient reserves for that purpose. Nevertheless, contact tracing and testing alone will not control the spread of COVID-19. Everyone needs to adhere to the safe distancing recommendations and wear masks when near others. That is the only way we as a community are going to prevent the spread of this very infectious disease,” said Park.