Updated 12/24/20, 3:46 p.m.
Where we stand
The state Department of Health reported 129 new cases and no new fatalities Thursday.
According to the state's numbers, O?ahu had 79 new cases, Maui 33, Hawai?i County 11, Kaua?i 1, Lanai and Moloka?i had none.
The latest state counts bring the O?ahu total to 17,356, Hawai?i County 1,848, Maui 838, Kaua?i 139, Lanai 106 and Moloka?i 22. The number of out-of-state cases totals 341.
Since the pandemic began, the state has tallied 20,650 cases. The death toll stands at 285.
DOH Prepares Vaccine Distribution To Healthcare Providers
The State Department of Health is working with major healthcare facilities to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to independent practices for widespread distribution.
According to guidelines set forward by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, independent physicians, their office staff, and frontline medical workers should be among the first to recieve the vaccine.
Additionally, DOH Director Libby Char has noted that despite the efforts underway by the state, a portion of federally allocated vaccine doses has been delayed by Operation Warp Speed.
"We are doing our best to get as many doses of vaccine as we can to the hospitals, in order to vaccinate our frontline health-care workers," Char said.
Access to the vaccine will be distributed county to county through a partnership between hospitals and community organizations, as well as the University of Hawaii.
DOH is asking members of the community to participate in a survey to help with the ongoing deployment of the vaccine.
Surge Testing Continues For Inmates, Staff At HCF
The Department of Public Safety has reported 98 more test results from Halawa Correctional Facility as part of an ongoing surge testing effort. Of the total, 15 tested positive while 83 tested negative, with three new positive cases among staff at HCF.
11 inmates and 12 staff at HCF have recovered.
Surge testing efforts at HCF will continue with the assistance of the Department of Health, the Hawai'i National Guard, and Project Vision Hawai'i until now new cases are reported.
Meanwhile, one negative test has been reported at Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) with no active positive inmates.
