Hawaii’s coronavirus cases rise by only 5 to a total of 504, health director Bruce Anderson says
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / MARCH 8
Hawaii Department of Health director Bruce Anderson told state lawmakers today that Hawaii counted only five new confirmed coronavirus cases today, bringing the statewide tally to 504.
UPDATE: 4 p.m.
Hawaii health officials said this afternoon that the Maui Memorial Medical Center cluster of COVID-19 cases has increased to 34 health care worker and patients.
The total includes two more health care workers and one patient who recently tested positive.
The Wailuku hospital and the Health Department continue notifying any patients who may have had care at Maui Memorial, but have since been released or discharged, officials said.
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Hawaii health officials are reporting only five new coronavirus infections today.
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The additional cases bring the total count for Hawaii to 504 since Feb. 28. Today’s single-digit increase was the lowest since four new cases were recorded on March 25.
State Health Director Bruce Anderson confirmed the unusually low new infection count in a meeting of the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness this morning.
The state’s coronavirus death toll stands at nine, unchanged from Sunday, with six deaths recorded on Oahu and three on Maui.
Of all the confirmed cases in Hawaii since the start of the outbreak, 44 have required hospitalizations, with no new cases reported today, health officials said.
Today’s statewide total includes 352 cases on Oahu, 86 in Maui County, 40 on Hawaii island, and 19 in Kauai County, according to health officials.
The statewide total also includes two Hawaii residents diagnosed outside of the state. Three cases in the statewide total are pending identification of county.
In all, state officials today reported two new cases each on Oahu and in Maui County, and one new case on Hawaii island.
Four of the five new patients are Hawaii residents, with the fifth person’s residency still under investigation, health officials said.
A total 315 patients have recovered since the start of the outbreak, with health officials reporting five new recoveries today. More than 60% of the people who have been infected in Hawaii are now classified as recovered.
By county, Honolulu has seen 233 patients recover, Maui has had 40 recoveries, the Big Island has had 28, and Kauai has seen 14, the Health Department said late this morning.
Of the 44 hospitalizations in the state, 36 have been on Oahu, seven on Maui and one on Kauai.
A total of 19,213 people have been tested so far as of today, meaning Hawaii is among the top 10 states in the nation for the number of people it tests per capita. Of the total tested in Hawaii, just under 2.7 percent have been confirmed to have the coronavirus infection.
