The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard for Tuesday, September 8, at 5:28 a.m.:

Worldwide cases: 27,372,211       Worldwide deaths: 893,658

U.S. cases:  6,306,412     U.S. deaths:  189,283

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 207,654 in the last 24 hours.  Deaths worldwide increased by more than 4,031.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 23,589 cases in the last 24 hours.  In that time,  the number of reported deaths from  COVID-19 increased by only 304.  In the U.S., although the daily count and deaths continue to increase, they are doing so at a lower average rate than two months ago, when cases were increasing by around 60,000 a day and deaths were averaging 1,000 a day.

Hawaii added only 105 new confirmed cases on Monday.  The state now has 6,845 active cases.  Deaths attributed to COVID-19 stand at 86, but that only counts 3 of the Big Island’s known 8 deaths of veterans at the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home. The first Big Island death was reported on Sunday, August 30, just 10 days ago.

The Big Island’s cumulative case count is now 517, with 11 new cases today. There are 282 active cases.

Lt. Governor Dr. Josh Green said on Monday that if the case counts continue to increase at 150 or fewer, the state’s hospitals should be able to handle additional COVID-19 cases.

As a result of the 8 deaths in 10 days at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home, Sen. Brian Schatz called on Gov. David Ige and VA Secretary Robert Wilke to have a VA team assist the staff at the Veterans Home with infection control, provide additional Personal Protective Equipment, and more.  In an interview with Hawaii News Now on Monday, Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim rejected the idea, saying the county and state are addressing ther situation.