The Tuesday morning, May 19, 2020 7:32 a.m. Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard:

Worldwide cases: 4,629,503   Worldwide deaths:  297,380

U.S. cases: 1,518,842    U.S. deaths:  90,994

More than 27,000 new cases were reported since Monday, and the country’s death count rose by 1,328.  But the projections are for infections to level off.  There are still more deaths ahead, however:   the University of Washington IHME (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation) forecast, widely relied on nationwide, predicts that by August 4, the country will have just over 143,000 deaths.  The country is on target to reach 100,000 deaths by the beginning of June.

Hawaii has 640 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but 574 have been released from isolation.  There have been 17 deaths.  Hawaii Island has 2 active cases–both in residents who returned from California, according to Mayor Harry Kim–out of 77 cumulative.  On Monday, Gov. David Ige said because the state’s infection rate is low,  the counties may allow businesses and facilities to begin reopening, in phases, but it’s up to the Mayors to set the dates.  Mayor Kim late Monday afternoon said he’s asked Gov. Ige for permission to reopen beaches on the Big Island today.