The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard for Wednesday, August 26, at 5:28 a.m.:

Worldwide cases:  23,951,902  Worldwide deaths: 820,835

U.S. cases:  5,788,185    U.S. deaths: 178,758

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 257,256 in the last 24 hours.  Deaths worldwide increased by more than 6,481.   Although cases and deaths continue to grow, they are growing at a smaller daily number than they have over the past couple of months.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 41,245 cases in the last 24 hours.  In that time,  the number of reported deaths from  COVID-19 increased by 1,222.

Cases in the state have been growing, although on Tuesday, the daily increase of 215 was lower than several days in the past week.  The cumulative case count in the state is 6,984, with 4,699 active cases.  The US Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, jointed Gov. David Ige, Honoluu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Lt. Gov. Dr. Josh Green, and others for a press conference Tuesday morning.  Adams said Hawaii is in the ‘yellow” zone now based on case count increases and positivity rate, and said the Federal Government is setting up  mass testing around O’ahu, with one location on the Big Island at Pahoa Pharmacy, and urged everybody to get tested, as a community surveillance measure.  This will add 5,000 tests a day with a goal of testing at least 70,000 people, primarily on O’ahu, to get a better idea of how widespread the virus is in the state.

At the same time, Mayor Caldwell and Gov. Ige announced that O’ahu is under a “stay at home, work at home” order starting Thursday at 12:01 a.m., for two weeks, to try to stop the virus and get it under control.  This is critical because the state’s hospital capacity is being taxed.  Queen’s Medical Center is full, with at least 100 COVID-19 patients.  The full story of the testing, new orders, and more is here.

On the Big Island, as of Tuesday at noon, the State Department of Health said Hawaii Island has 74 active cases.  Dan Brinkman, CEO of Hilo Medical Center, confirmed that as of yesterday, the facility had 10 people with COVID-19 in the hospital, 4 of whom were in the Intensive Care Unit.  He talked with New West Broadcasting’s Sherry Bracken about the precautions the hospital is taking, and expressed concern about whether there is still a spike coming. As of this morning, HMC had 5 patients with COVID-19 in the ICU, protected away from other patients,  and 8 in the regular “COVID pod,” an area protected by plastic barriers and separated from other patients.   HMC can handle the cases it has, and Brinkman talked about plans to create more bed and ICU capacity  if the incoming patients exceed the current capacity.  He also said with precautions, the hospital remains ready to care for the all the other issues for which people need the hospital and health care.

Mayor Harry Kim, in a late afternoon discussion with Bracken, expressed his disappointment at the rise in cases on the Big Island, most stemming from large gatherings.   There are also several cases at the Yukio Otsuku Veterans Home, and Mayor Kim said there will be further testing of staff and residents.  Mayor Kim said he does not believe an additional “stay at home” order is necessary for the Big Island, but he does want people to adhere to the rule of no gatherings more than 10, and has asked Hawaii County Police to step up enforcement of violations.  He, as all others, urge everybody to wear masks, wash hands, and watch your distance–ie stay away from others.