Fifteen new COVID-19 cases were reported Monday on the Big Island, the third straight day Hawaii County has reported new cases in the double-digits.
On Saturday, the island reported 20 new cases and 12 on Sunday. Statewide, there were 114 new and probable cases Saturday and another 102 on Sunday.
“Over the weekend, we saw a bump up in cases again,” Gov. David Ige said during a livestream Monday. “Over 100 new cases a day over the last weekend, which looks like it’s probably the result of the Fourth of July weekend. I do anticipate we’ll be seeing higher case counts over the next few days.”
The 15 Big Island cases reported Monday brought the island’s total case count to 3,368 and were among 63 cases reported statewide, according to the Department of Health. Oahu reported 28 cases, Maui County six and Kauai seven. Seven cases were among residents diagnosed out of state.
Since the end of last February, 38,544 people have tested positive for COVID-19 across Hawaii.
The Big Island had a 3.7% seven-day positivity rate, over the state’s 2.3% positivity rate on Monday. Over the last 14 days, 114 cases have been reported on the Big Island. Over the past week, the island has reported an average of 10.7 cases per day.
No new coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Monday. Of the 521 deaths confirmed and reported by the state to date, 404 were on Oahu, 57 were on Maui, 55 were on the Big Island and two on Kauai. Three deaths were among residents outside the state.
The state Department of Health confirmed the death of a fully vaccinated Oahu man, older than 80, who had multiple underlying health conditions. DOH spokesman Brooks Baehr said the DOH reported his death several weeks ago but learned the man had been vaccinated while conducting a follow-up investigation.
According to Baehr, there have been more than 100 deaths since the first people in Hawaii were fully vaccinated in mid-January. More than 99% have been unvaccinated people. Additionally, about 98% of individuals hospitalized recently have been unvaccinated, he said.
