New State Virus Maps Have Some Geographic Breakdowns
New maps from the Hawaii health department illustrate higher concentrations of confirmed coronavirus cases in some areas.
The Hawaii Department of Health has released , including statewide testing counts and maps that show where the most COVID-19 cases have been confirmed by zip code.
The maps are snapshots that broadly illustrate where more cases have been confirmed, but lack specific details.
DOH Director Bruce Anderson said the eight cases classified as community-transmitted as of Tuesday are not all from the same census tract.
鈥淭his map is to just give us a sense of how widely spread this disease is,” he said.
The maps are a slightly delayed snapshot in time and include only the cases for which 鈥渓ocation data are available,鈥 the department writes.
The maps are not meant to imply that one has a higher risk of becoming infected in these areas, the health department warns. Actual infection rates likely outpace the state’s testing abilities.
At a press conference Tuesday, Anderson said the maps reflect 鈥渞esidences of the individuals, not necessarily where they were exposed.鈥
鈥淚n fact, it’s quite likely they’re exposed outside of their home,” he said. “It is helpful for planning and strategic purposes to know where there is evidence of the disease and where people who have been affected are living.鈥
There have been no cases on Lanai or Molokai.
Oahu, which has seen the most COVID-19 cases to date, also has the most areas with the highest range of cases.
According to the maps, 16 to 20 cases have been confirmed in the Waialae-Kahala, Kailua and Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay or ZCTAs.
ZCTAs were Bureau and provide approximate area representations of the U.S. Postal Services鈥 ZIP codes.
The state is also providing a new epidemiological bar graph, which illustrates a growth in cases among Hawaii residents, visitors, and their reported exposure to the virus. The first community-transmitted cases appeared in mid-March.
The state has implemented one of the most aggressive testing regimens in the nation, Anderson said, with more than 9,000 tests conducted and 224 positive COVID-19 diagnoses to date.
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