UPDATE: 6:10 p.m.

An elderly Honolulu man has died from the coronavirus, the 18th COVID-19 death for Hawaii and the first in nearly two months, state officials announced tonight.

No details on the latest death were immediately released. The last coronavirus-related death in Hawaii was May 3.

“This is the worst way to emphasize the need for all of us to continue safe practices such as physical distancing, wearing of masks, and hand washing,” Gov. David Ige said in a news release. “We must protect our kupuna and others who are at high risk, by practicing personal responsibility, especially around others outside our own immediate family or household.”

Hawaii health officials said residents may becoming lax in their attitudes about the infection. They cited a Health Department survey that found the number of people who considered the virus as a “very serious” health concern, fell from 73% to 54% in less than two months. They also said the survey found that fewer residents are following social distancing recommendations “most of the time” or “part of the time.”

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Hawaii recorded 17 new coronavirus cases today, and the statewide total of infections since the start of the outbreak is now at 866, state Department of Health officials said in their daily midday count.

For the second day in a row, health officials also said one case — on Oahu — was removed from the statewide total “as a result of updated testing information.”

Today’s new cases included 14 on Oahu, 1 on Kauai and two Hawaii residents who were diagnosed out of state. Health officials said 15 of today’s new cases are adults and two are children, and that at least eight of the Oahu cases are related to known cases.

As of today, 144 infections in Hawaii are active cases with a total of 705 patients now classified by health officials as “released from isolation” since the start of the outbreak in February. Nine new release cases were reported today. The category counts those infected people who have met the criteria for being released from isolation.

About 81% of the Hawaii people who have been infected are now classified as released from isolation.

The state’s coronavirus death toll remains unchanged at 17. Eleven of the deaths have been on Oahu and six on Maui.

Today’s statewide coronavirus cases total includes 608 on Oahu, 122 in Maui County, 86 on Hawaii island, and 34 in Kauai County, according to health officials. The total also includes 16 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside of the state.

Of all the confirmed Hawaii cases since the start of the outbreak, 109 have required hospitalizations, with no new hospitalizations reported today, health officials said.

One hospitalization in the statewide count is a Hawaii resident who was diagnosed and treated outside the state, officials said. Of the 108 hospitalizations in the state, 80 have been on Oahu, 25 on Maui, two on Hawaii island, and one for Kauai.

By county, Honolulu has seen 488 patients released from isolation, and Maui has had 113 patients released. The Big Island has two active infections, while Kauai has 13.

Of the more than 74,301 coronavirus tests conducted so far by state and clinical laboratories in Hawaii, about 1.1% have been positive. Health officials counted 1,296 new test results in today’s tally.

After a relatively mild May with only 46 new cases reported, Hawaii has reported 222 new confirmed cases so far this month.

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