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Health officials reported 277 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, as residents across Oahu turned out in droves to get tested as part of an intensive push aimed at getting the virus under control.

The federal government is paying for “surge testing” and officials hope to test as many as 60,000 people in the next two weeks.

Two more men on Oahu have died from COVID-19, bringing the state’s death toll to 51. Both men had other health conditions and had been hospitalized. One was in his 50s and the other in his 60s.

Hawaii island saw 23 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and Maui saw eight. Oahu tallied 245 COVID-19 cases.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park said Wednesday the growth in COVID-19 cases on Maui and the Big Island are concerning and being monitored by county and state health officials.

On Hawaii island, clusters of infections are associated with a recent beach party and a funeral that were captured by video on social media. More than 500 people who attended the funeral have been tested, according to state health department officials, who noted more follow-up testing is planned.

Clusters on Maui include cases at an assisted living facility and new cases associated with a hospital, state officials said. Maui Memorial Medical Center, the island’s largest hospital, is .

“We have concerns that ongoing gatherings, especially with inconsistent mask use or distancing, are contributing,” Park said in a statement.

A new stay-at-home order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and will last for two weeks. Businesses including hair salons and gyms must close, and restaurants will have to revert to takeout only. Child care, construction, health care and some educational and religious services will be allowed to remain open.

Data from the shows that COVID-19 has affected more adults younger than 50 years old to date than elderly patients, but more fatalities have occurred among the elderly population. As of Tuesday, there were nearly 4,700 people with active COVID-19 infections monitored by the state health department, 95% of whom were on Oahu.

Despite experts questioning the scientific rationale for beach and park closures, those closures will remain in effect, Caldwell said.

For more information, check and .

Cases, Deaths And COVID-19 Testing In Hawaii

Hawaii COVID-19 Cases By County

Daily New COVID-19 Cases

Number Of Confirmed COVID–19 Cases In U.S.

COVID-19 Cases Worldwide

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