The Johns Hopkins COVID Dashboard for Friday, November 13, at 5:25 a.m.:

Worldwide cases: 52,918,582      Worldwide deaths:  1,295,976

U.S. cases: 10,569,558   U.S. deaths:  242,536

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 614,518  in the last 24 hours.  Deaths worldwide increased by 8,925.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 153,779 cases in the last 24 hours.  This is the eighth day in a row the new cases have been greater than 100,000.   In the last day,  the number of reported deaths from  COVID-19 increased by 629.

According to Johns Hopkins, Thursday brought the United States’ highest one-day infection total (above 153,000) and seven-day average for new daily infections (more than 131,000) on record.  The United States has nearly 2 million more cases than India, which has a population around 3 times larger than the U.S.  Click on the attached map to enlarge it.

The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, considered one of the foremost health data organizations, is now predicting that based on the current trajectory and behaviors,  the U.S. could reach nearly 400,000 deaths by February 1, 2021.

The concern nationwide is hospital capacity.

The State of Hawaii Department of Health says the state’s count of COVID-19 cases is 16,302.  The Big Island’s total case count is 1,451.  On Thursday, the State Department of Health released a new report, which shows where clusters of COVID-19 originate on each island.  On the Big Island, two social gatherings have resulted in 63 cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.  State health officials say the virus on the island is not being brought in by travelers, but is spreading in our island population.  The Hawaii County post-travel COVID-19 test showed that in the first approximately 12,500 travelers tested, only 17, or .001%, tested positive, indicating the pre-travel test program is working.

There is free COVID-19 testing today at Keauhou Shopping Center from 9 til noon.  For other tests coming Saturday and next week to Kona, Hilo, and Pahoa, click here.