The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard for Thursday morning, July 16, at 7:51 a.m.:

Worldwide cases: 13,637,917      Worldwide deaths: 584,990

U.S. cases:  3,533,317   U.S. deaths: 137,846   

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide cases increased by 246,893 in the last 24 hours, and 4,602 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 74,264  cases in the last 24 hours, and deaths attributed to COVID-19 have increased by 946.    The United States has just over one quarter of all the cases in the world.

Hawaii Island, per State Department of Health on Wednesday, has 11 active cases, but Hawaii County Civil Defense says that number may be lower today.  The next report will be around noon today from State DOH.

There are at least 3 employees of Kona Hospital with COVID-19, and today, Premier Medical Group under Dr. Scott Miscovich will test all employees and all contractors.  The hospital itself will test all patients.  And Premier Medical Group will do a community testing on Saturday, but are waiting for Hawaii County to determine where that will occur.

At least one person who was at the hospital Emergency Room (a parent taking a child in) tested positive for COVID-19, but neither State nor County has released any information about others who were exposed and tested positive.

In the meantime, those who were notified of possible exposure by the hospital may get tested by Ali’i Health at Keauhou Shopping Center on Friday from 9 a.m. until noon, in a drive-through, no advance appointment needed screening and testing. Aloha Kona Urgent Care will test during their normal hours, today and Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m., or next Monday and Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Both Ali’i Health and Aloha Kona Urgent Care ask that you bring insurance information if you have it, but will test patients at no charge if not. For Aloha Kona Urgent Care, if you need COVID-19 testing, they ask you to call once you arrive, to (808) 365-2297.

Ali’i Health, Aloha Kona Urgent Care, and Premier Medical Group all do the deep nasal swab PCR testing, the most reliable available. For all testings, it’s a good idea to bring your own pen to avoid any spread of COVID-19, and please always wear a mask.