Big Island COVID-19 case count increases by 1

The Big Island has reported only 13 new cases of COVID-19 over the past week as efforts have been ramped up to vaccinate kupuna and essential workers.

Hawaii County Civil Defense said Thursday that according to the state, nearly two-thirds of the island’s kupuna, the “most vulnerable population,” had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“As we await for the vaccine to be more readily available to everyone, we ask that you continue to follow the preventative policies of wearing face coverings, maintaining distance, and keeping our gatherings to no more than 10 persons,” the agency said.

On Thursday, just one new case was reported on the Big Island by the Department of Health, bringing the total case count to 2,237 since Feb. 28, 2020.

Statewide, a total of 45 new cases were reported Thursday by the Department of Health. Oahu reported 24 of those cases, Maui County 18 and Kauai zero. TWO residents were diagnosed while outside the state.

Statewide, to date, there have been 27,358 people who have tested positive for COVID-19. The Big Island on Thursday had a 0.3% test positivity rate, below the statewide rate of 1.2%.

Statewide, 34 people were hospitalized Thursday, two of whom were receiving care on the Big Island. To date, 2,209 people have required hospitalization, including 115 on the Big Island.

No new coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Thursday by the state. Of the 435 coronavirus-related deaths confirmed and reported by the state to date, 346 were on Oahu, 32 were on Maui, 53 were on the Big Island and one on Kauai. Three deaths were among residents outside the state.

No deaths have been reported on the Big Island this year.