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Hawaii sees 3 coronavirus-related deaths and 221 new cases as statewide tally grows to 9,693

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / AUG. 31
                                People wait in line for COVID-19 surge testing at Queen Kapiolani Regional Park.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / AUG. 31

People wait in line for COVID-19 surge testing at Queen Kapiolani Regional Park.

Hawaii Department of Health officials today reported three new coronavirus-related deaths and 221 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide totals since the beginning of the pandemic to 84 fatalities and 9,693 cases.

No further details were provided about the latest deaths on Oahu. Hilo Medical Center on Friday reported a total of six deaths this week at the veterans home as part of an outbreak in which 47 residents and 18 employees have tested positive for the virus. Today’s tally does not include the Hawaii County deaths, which are pending verfication by state health officials.

A total of 72 deaths have been on Oahu, eight on Maui, three on the Big Island, while one was a Kauai resident who died on the mainland. The U.S. death toll is over 188,000 today.

The total new cases today included 191 on Oahu, 24 on Hawaii island, five in Maui County and one case of a Hawaii resident diagnosed outside of the state. As a result of updated information, one case was removed from Oahu.

As of today, 6,678 infections are considered active cases statewide, with a total of 2,931 patients now classified by health officials as “released from isolation,” or about 30% of those infected. The category counts those infected people who have met the criteria for being released from isolation. Seventy-six new release cases were reported today.

Today’s total coronavirus cases by county since the start of the outbreak included 8,765 on Oahu, 493 in Hawaii County, 352 in Maui County, and 57 in Kauai County. One new case of a Hawaii resident diagnosed outside of the state was reported today, bringing the tally to 26 residents diagnosed outside of Hawaii.

Hawaii’s run of triple-digit increases in daily new COVID-19 cases in August prompted state, city and federal government to partner in a free surge testing program on Oahu to administer tests to 90,000 people over roughly three weeks. Go to doIneedacovid19test.com for more information.

>> RELATED: Lost faith in Hawaii’s October tourism reopening triggers mass layoffs, traveler cancellations

Officials counted 8,405 new tests in today’s tally, with today’s 221 positive cases representing nearly 3% of the total tested. Of the 229,796 coronavirus tests conducted so far by state and clinical laboratories in Hawaii since the start of the outbreak, a total of 4.1% have been positive.

Of all the confirmed Hawaii cases, 592 have required hospitalizations, with nine new hospitalizations reported today, health officials said.

Two hospitalizations in the statewide count are Hawaii residents who were diagnosed and treated outside the state. Of the 590 hospitalizations within the state, 525 have been on Oahu, 45 on Maui, 19 on Hawaii island, and one on Kauai.

By county, Honolulu has seen 2,450 patients released from isolation, Hawaii County has had 223 releases, Maui has seen 203 patients released, and Kaui has had 55 patients released.

>> RELATED: Hawaii coronavirus services lacking for Pacific Islanders


This breaking news story will be updated again.


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