Updated: 9/27/2020, 12:14 p.m. The Hawaii Department of Health today reported 1 new death from COVID-19 and 98 new cases statewide. The latest infection numbers returned the state to double-digit case counts after shooting to triple digits yesterday. Reported infections generally have been declining, however.
The latest statewide COVID-19 case count brings the total number of infections to 12,116. Deaths now stand at 132.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green said yesterday the number of active cases has decreased significantly as the health department catches up on backlogged work. "We are turning the corner, things have been much better," he said on his Instagram update.
He said there are 148 cases in hospitals. "So that's also about 50% lower than what we had in the past, in the past couple weeks," he said.
There have now been 10,939 cases on Oahu (91 new cases), 700 on Hawaii Island (7 new cases), 388 for Maui County (no new cases), and 59 on Kauai (no new case). Thirty residents have been diagnosed out of state.
There were no new deaths reported this morning at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, where 26 veterans have died and 106 residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
The veterans home operator, Avalon Health Care Group, is being replaced at the veterans home after government reports found serious deficiencies in the operations leading to the fatal outbreak.
