The State Department of Health today says Hawaii has 173  new COVID-19 cases.  All are on O’ahu.

The State has 2,763 cumulative cases, with 1,334 active cases.  The Big Island has 7 active cases.

Both State Health Director Bruce Anderson and Lt. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., have expressed concern about the progression of the virus in the state, especially relative to the impact on hospitals.  Statistically, one in ten people who get COVID-19 will have to be hospitalized, and statistically, one of those will pass away from COVID.  Just two days ago, the number of people hospitalized in the state for COVID-19 was 75, and by yesterday, it was 138.

Both have said that people in the state hold the fate of future restrictions on movement in our hands–we have to wear masks, and we have to maintain distance from others.  Most of the recent cases on O’ahu have been the result of community spread, not travel.   The majority of people now who are contracting COVID-19 are younger, under 60, but they may spread the virus to others.  But younger people are not immune from the severe consequences of COVID-19:  the most recent person to die was a man between 40 and 59.  The state has lost 27 lives to COVID-19.

The concerns about hospital capacity was reinforced on Monday by Ray Vara, CEO of Hawaii Pacific Health.  In a press briefing after the meeting of the State House Select Committee on COVID-19, he said he’s concerned that many more days of triple digit new cases may stress the state’s hospital system to its capacity.  Right now, there is sufficient capacity, but as both he and Lt. Gov. Josh Green, M.D., have pointed out, hospitalizations lag the notification of the positive cases by a week or two.  The average hospital stay for those with COVID-19 is ten days.

Gov. David Ige said he’s talking with the Mayors of the four counties about possibly re-imposing restrictions.   On O’ahu on Tuesday, City and County of Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell pleaded with people on the island to adhere to the COVID-19 precautions (mask-wearing, distancing, hand washing) to help stem the tide on that island.

The State’s detailed report: