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Elderly Oahu woman with coronavirus dies as statewide death toll rises to 24

BRUCE ASATO / APRIL 5
                                Volunteer John Yoza prepares a swab to use on an individual during a drive-thru COVID-19 screening at Kakaako Waterfront Park.
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BRUCE ASATO / APRIL 5

Volunteer John Yoza prepares a swab to use on an individual during a drive-thru COVID-19 screening at Kakaako Waterfront Park.

UPDATE: 7:10 p.m.

The Hawaii Department of Health reported the coronavirus-related death of an Oahu elderly woman with underlying medical conditions, the second COVID-19 fatality in Hawaii reported today.

The statewide coronavirus death toll is now 24.

The woman died on Thursday, officials said. No further details were immediately released.

“It strikes at all of our hearts, each and every time we have to report another casualty of COVID-19,” Health Director Bruce Anderson said in a news release tonight announcing the death. “Please be safe and practice all precautions. People who have been sick with this disease and tragically the victims of coronavirus and their loved ones, deserve that respect and care from each and everyone one of us in Hawaii.”

Earlier today, officials announced Hawaii’s 23rd coronavirus-related death, an elderly man with underlying conditions on Oahu. Health officials said the man was over 60 years old and had been isolating with family at home. (Story below.)

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Hawaii health officials today reported a new coronavirus-related death on Oahu, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 23.

Officials also counted 23 new confirmed coronavirus cases today, bringing the statewide total number of infections since the start of the outbreak to 1,334.

Lt. Gov. Josh Green said today that the elderly Oahu resident who died was isolating at home with family. Fifteen of the other deaths have been on Oahu, six on Maui, and one Kauai resident who died in Arizona.

“I really hope everyone wears masks this weekend,” he said. “We need to flatten this curve.”

>> RELATED: Former Queen’s Medical Center respiratory therapist dies from coronavirus

Today’s new cases include 20 on Oahu, two on Hawaii island and one resident diagnosed outside of Hawaii, according to the state Department of Health’s daily COVID-19 tally.

In addition, three new cases reported Thursday that were pending identification of residency were added to the Oahu total today.

‘Iolani School announced late Thursday a part-time football coach tested positive for coronavirus and was making arrangements for everyone involved in recent workouts to be tested.

>> RELATED: ‘Iolani football coach tests positive for coronavirus

As of today, 317 infections in Hawaii are active cases, with a total of 994 patients now classified by health officials as “released from isolation,” or 74% of those infected. Nineteen new release cases — 18 on Oahu and one on the Big Island — were reported today. The category counts those infected people who have met the criteria for being released from isolation.

Today’s statewide coronavirus case total includes 1,025 on Oahu, 135 in Maui County, 109 on Hawaii island, and 43 in Kauai County, according to health officials. The total also includes 22 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside of the state.

Of all the confirmed Hawaii cases since the start of the outbreak, 139 have required hospitalizations, with one new hospitalization on Oahu reported today, health officials said.

Green said today there are a total of 39 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients currently in hospitals in Hawaii, of whom six are in intensive care units and two are on ventilators.

Two hospitalizations in the statewide count are Hawaii residents who were diagnosed and treated outside the state. Of the 137 hospitalizations within the state, 107 have been on Oahu, 25 on Maui, four on Hawaii island, and one on Kauai.

By county, Honolulu has seen 735 patients released from isolation, and Maui has had 120 patients released. Hawaii island has 10 active infections, while Kauai County has one.

Of the 102,995 coronavirus tests conducted so far by state and clinical laboratories in Hawaii, 1.3% have been positive. Health officials counted 1,791 new test results in today’s tally.

Correction: An elderly man was the 23rd coronavirus-related death in Hawaii, which officials announced early today. An earlier version of this story said the Oahu resident was a woman.
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