Hawaii Records 3 More COVID-19 Deaths
The state logged 86 new cases over the weekend as officials linked clusters associated with two gyms and a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant training.
State health officials on Monday reported three additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing Hawaii’s total to 22.
All were elderly Hawaii residents, including a woman who had been a resident at an unspecified care home and died at an Oahu hospital Sunday morning.
A Kauai man died in Arizona where he was being treated for other medical conditions for several months, officials said.
The third death reported Monday dates back to July 7. The death of an elderly Oahu man with underlying medical conditions was added to the state toll “after a review of his health history and discussions with his primary care physician,” state officials wrote.
鈥淲e all extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of these three people,” Health Director Bruce Anderson said in a statement. “The best tribute to their lives and to the lives of all 22 people who鈥檝e lost the fight against coronavirus, is getting everyone in Hawaii to take personal responsibility for their own health and the health of everyone around them.鈥
Since Friday, a total of 86 cases were verified by state health officials, who said many were associated with previous clusters and spread within the community.
Twenty-four cases are linked back to a flight attendant training activity at Hawaiian Airlines’ headquarters in Honolulu. One person who became infected during that training went to two gyms, which led to 20 more cases, according to the health department’s Disease and Outbreak Control Division.
鈥淭his clearly shows how easily and quickly this virus can spread from person-to-person and from place-to-place when people are not practicing physical distancing, not wearing masks, not staying home when sick, and possibly not washing their hands frequently and thoroughly,鈥 state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said in a release.
Other recent infections have been traced to “pau hana gatherings, businesses, urgent care and long-term care facilities,” DOH reported, and other household gatherings such as birthday parties, the 4th of July, Father’s Day and religious events.
