The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard for Friday, September 11, at 5:28 a.m.:

Worldwide cases: 28,219,714     Worldwide deaths: 910,460

U.S. cases:   6,401,371   U.S. deaths:  191,842

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 294,101 in the last 24 hours.  Deaths worldwide increased by  5,371.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 31,290 cases in the last 24 hours.  In that time,  the number of reported deaths from  COVID-19 increased by 674.

As of Thursday afternoon, for Hawaii:

The State had 10,292 cumulative cases of COVID-19

The State had least 7,000 active cases of COVID-19

The Big Island had 541 cumulative cases of COVID-19

The Big Island had at least 278 active cases of COVID-19

The State was reporting 94 deaths

The Big Island has suffered 11 deaths, 10 of whom were residents at the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home.  Only 3 are so far included in the State count.  The first death at Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home was on August 29, and 64 of the 74 residents at the home have now tested positive for COVID-19, along with 24 staff.

A physician from the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is now on island assisting with the situation at the Veterans Home.  In addition, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz asked the Veterans Administration to step in to assist, and announced early this morning that a VA team is on its way to assist.  The team will include an infectious disease physician, a facilities engineer who understands environmental air flow and AC systems, an infectious disease nurse specialist with expertise in running COVID-19 units, a safety officer, an industrial hygienist, and a nurse manager.   Although Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim has said no help is needed, and said he resented Schatz’ intervention, both Hilo Medical Center CEO Dan Brinkman and officials for Avalon Health, the entity which manages the Veterans Home, said they welcome the assistance.