The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard for Thursday morning, April 30, at 6:32 a.m. shows a continuing growth of confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world and in the U.S. but in Hawaii, the situation is becoming stable.

Worldwide cases:   3,231,701   Worldwide deaths:  228,908

U.S. cases:  1,043,595    U. S. deaths:  61,288

Hawaii cases:  613   Hawaii deaths:  16

At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, both Governor David Ige and Lt. Governor Dr. Josh Green said “the curve has flattened.”  Lt. Gov Green said the recovery rate in the state is 83%.  He said there are still some very ill COVID-19 patients in the hospital who may pass away, but the number of new confirmed cases has been 6 or lower for several days.

Lt. Gov. Green said that there is now antibody testing available in the state, to be rolled out by Clinical Labs Hawaii.  The tests should be able to tell if an individual had COVID-19, not if he or she currently has it.

Standard medical care is beginning to broaden on the island.

North Hawaii Community Hospital and Hilo Medical Center are both resuming elective surgeries, which were postponed out of a concern that hospital facilities would be overrun with COVID-19 patients.  That has not happened.  Both facilities have extra precautions in place because of COVID-19.  Kona Community Hospital had one announced COVID-19 patient who has since been discharged.  North Hawaii Hospital also announced that normal clinic visits and routine services will resume.

Gov. Ige said that although there is currently a statewide “stay at home” order through May 31, except for certain essential businesses, he is allowing Mayors to reopen businesses after consultation with the State.   On O’ahu, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced that starting this afternoon, some businesses may reopen, with COVID-19 precautions in place.