The Hawaii Department of Health today reported 4,381 new COVID-19 infections over the past week, lower than the number reported the previous week. The new infections bring the total since the start of the pandemic to 313,076 cases.

DOH also reported 20 more deaths, bringing the state’s coronavirus-related death toll to 1,524.

The state’s seven-day average of new cases today was reported at 651 compared to 685 reported on June 29, representing a continued downward trend for the fifth week in a row. The seven-day average reflects new cases per day from June 25 to July 1.

The actual daily average of new cases is estimated to be five to six times higher, DOH Director Dr. Libby Char has said, due to unreported home test results.

The state’s average positivity rate also declined to 15.1% from 16.5% reported the previous week, representing tests performed between June 28 to July 4. It was the fourth weekly decline in a row, but testing rates also dropped over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Kauai County continues to have the highest positivity rate at 18.6%.

By island, there were 2,832 new infections reported on Oahu, 516 on Hawaii island, 540 on Maui, 205 on Kauai, eight on Molokai and one on Lanai. Another 279 infections were reported out of state.

The state dashboard today reported 164 patients with COVID-19 in hospitals, down from 207 reported last week. Of the 164 patients, 12 were in intensive care and six on ventilators