Hawaii Coronavirus Cases Now At 371
The number of confirmed cases has more than doubled since last Sunday.
Hawaii reported 20 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Sunday, bringing the total number in the state up to 371.
That’s according to Sunday.
Oahu’s total jumped by 15 up to 281, compared with 266 Saturday. Maui County’s grew by five, up to 43 from 38. Kauai County’s increased by one to 16 total confirmed cases. The number of confirmed cases in Hawaii County remained the same at 22.
Twenty-one cases have required hospitalization, up from 19 Saturday.
Molokai reported its second COVID-19 case Saturday. Both cases involve employees of Friendly Market Center in Kaunakakai, according to a press release from the Hawaii Senate. The supermarket is closed until April 20 and employees are self-isolating.
Lanai has yet to report a confirmed case of COVID-19.
The virus has so far claimed four lives in Hawaii, including Arthur Whistler, a 75-year-old scientist who died Thursday, reported. Whistler wrote books about plants in Polynesia and Micronesia and was known for his research and travels throughout the region.
The novel coronavirus and policymakers’ efforts to slow its spread have effectively crashed the state’s tourism, restaurant, bar and event industries and hurt other economic sectors. More than 160,000 people have applied for unemployment, officials said Friday.
Travel to Hawaii has nosedived and arriving travelers, with some exceptions, are required to quarantine for 14 days or risk a misdemeanor charge, punishable with a year in prison or up to a $5,000 fine. The state has called in the National Guard to help screen passengers and deliver medical equipment.
Oahu has been under a shelter-in-place order for two weeks, and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is urging all residents who do go out for essential work or errands to wear masks.
The spread of COVID-19 is expected to worsen in Hawaii. As of April 5, average daily deaths are expected to peak in early May, according to an ‘s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. But that projection — like all models of the virus’ trajectory in Hawaii — is based on a range of assumptions and changes daily.
Officials are urging people to stay at home because research shows social distancing can help reduce the number of cases and deaths and prevent overwhelming the health care system.
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