The state Department of Health on Monday reported another 720 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Hawaii, including 139 new cases on the Big Island.
Monday’s count comes after a record-breaking number of infections were reported Sunday — 1,678, the largest tally reported on a single day since the start of the pandemic.
Another 214 cases were reported Sunday on the Big Island amid an ongoing surge driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.
Sunday’s case count, however, included cases backlogged due to reporting error from one laboratory, the DOH said.
“As always, trends are more important than single-day counts,” DOH spokesman Brooks Baehr said in a statement Sunday. “Hawaii continues to trend in the wrong direction. The upward trend will not slow until more of us take the necessary steps to protect ourselves and our community. It is imperative we wear masks, get vaccinated and distance ourselves from those not in our household, work or school bubbles.”
According to the DOH, an average of 874 new cases were reported each day Aug. 22-28.
Nearly 11,000 cases have been reported in the past 14 days.
As of Monday, Hawaii County boasted the highest test positivity rate in the state at 9.4%, compared to an 8% positivity rate statewide.
In the past 14 days, 523 cases have been reported in Hilo and 465 have been reported in Kailua-Kona.
During that same time period, 64 have been reported in Honokaa; 106 in Waimea; 67 in the Waikoloa Village and Puako areas; 59 in Kealakekua; 87 in the Captain Cook, Ocean View and Honaunau areas; 81 in Pahoa; 154 in Keaau; and 59 in Mountain View.
The state Department of Education has made it easier to track coronavirus cases in Hawaii’s schools
A new interactive dashboard launched last week provides case data at the state, district, complex area and school levels.
Since July 1, 1,731 cumulative COVID cases have been reported at schools across Hawaii.
“While community transmission levels remain high, the department has no known cases of students getting sick with COVID-19 as a result of coming to school, and there is no evidence of clusters on HIDOE campuses,” the DOE said in a news release Friday.
As of Friday, 33 cases have been reported at Hilo High; 18 at Kealakehe High; 15 each at Kealakehe Elementary and Waikoloa Elementary &Middle; 13 at Kealakehe Intermediate; 12 each at Keaau Middle and Kahakai Elementary; 10 at Kapiolani Elementary; nine at Waiakea Intermediate; eight each at Waimea Elementary and Waiakeawaena Elementary; seven at Waiakea High; six each at Konawaena Elementary, Kohala Elementary, Honokaa Elementary and Keaau High; five each at Mountain View Elementary, Konawaena Middle, Kohala Middle, Keaukaha Elementary, Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino, Kaumana Elementary, Hilo Union Elementary, Honokaa High &Intermediate and deSilva Elementary; four each at Konawaena High, Keonepoko Elementary and Keaau Elementary; three each at Pahoa Elementary School and Holualoa Elementary; two each at Waiakea Elementary, Pahoa High &Intermediate, Paauilo Elementary &Intermediate, Kohala High, Kalanianaole Elementary &Intermediate, and Hilo Intermediate; and one each at Naalehu Elementary, Ka‘u High &Pahala Elementary and Haaheo Elementary.
Hookena and Honaunau elementary schools have not reported any COVID cases.
The dashboard can be found online at bit.ly/HIDOEcases.
Testing and vaccinations
Community testing is available today from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Kona Community Aquatic Center in Kailua-Kona, 2-6 p.m. at Makuu Farmers Market in Pahoa and 9 a.m.-noon at The HUB, Pahoa.
Additional testing opportunities can be found online at bit.ly/HawaiiCOVIDtesting.
According to the DOH, 63.1% of Hawaii’s population is now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus while 71.4% have received at least one dose.
Meanwhile, 60% of the Big Island’s population has been fully vaccinated and 72% have received at least one shot.
A partial list of vaccination sites can be found online at bit.ly/BigIslandvaccines.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.