The number of daily coronavirus cases in Hawaii County continues to climb.
The state Department of Health on Wednesday reported 16 new cases on the Big Island, bringing the total number of cases reported in the county since the start of the pandemic to 2,479.
East Hawaii continues to be the island’s virus hot spot.
According to data from the DOH, 52 cases have been reported in Hilo in the past 14 days, while 24 have been reported in Kailua-Kona during the same time period.
Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno said the new cases are the result of community transmission from large gatherings.
“We do have clusters that we’re tracking, that DOH is tracking,” he said. “We still have pretty good capacity for the number of folks coming up infected. We’re monitoring it. We’re concerned, but I think we still have things in hand.”
He would not identify specific Hilo communities where the clusters occurred, but confirmed that 10 people currently are in quarantine at the Hilo Seaside Hotel.
“Every community is susceptible,” Magno said. “We’ve just got to be careful all around. You cannot let down your guard, especially now with the community transmission we’re having.”
Hawaii County had a 1.8% test positivity rate as of Wednesday, compared to a 1.9% positivity rate statewide.
A Hawaii County official has tested positive for COVID-19, the county reported Wednesday. It was not clear in which county department the individual works.
Mayor Mitch Roth’s administration, however, is working with the DOH and Civil Defense to address the issue.
Statewide, the DOH reported 100 new cases Wednesday, including 42 on Oahu, 30 on Maui, one on Kauai and one on Lanai. Ten residents were diagnosed outside the state.
The death of an Oahu woman older than 80 also was reported Wednesday.
Nearly 623,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered throughout Hawaii.
On the Big Island, 27.4% of residents have received at least one vaccine dose, and 15.2% have completed two doses.
According to the DOH, the state has ordered 881,340 vaccines and has so far received 830,780.
The neighbor islands now have the ability to expand vaccine eligibility as needed to ensure all vaccination slots are filled, the DOH announced Wednesday.
Because every island has its own unique characteristics — including population density and size, health care resources and enthusiasm for the vaccine — and with more vaccines arriving in Hawaii this week than any previous week, state Health Director Dr. Libby Char thinks the time is right to give the neighbor islands more say in how they administer vaccines.
“The state is getting more than 81,000 vaccine doses this week, and the federal government is distributing thousands more to Longs Drugs and Safeway,” she said in a news release.
“The combined allocation to Hawaii this week tops 120,000 doses. We want those doses in the correct arms as possible and believe the neighbor islands are situated to get that done.”
The DOH will coordinate the designation of who is eligible in each county and continue to determine vaccine eligibility on Oahu.
Eligibility decisions are based on current and projected vaccination numbers, appointment availability and the amount of vaccines allocated and available.
Vaccination opportunities are available online at hawaiicovid19.com and from health care providers throughout the state.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.