On Thursday, Hawaii coronavirus cases confirmed by private and state laboratories reached 106.

Eight new cases were documented in Honolulu County and one new case was documented for Maui County. Two other cases among Hawaii residents identified outside of Hawaii were confirmed as well.

The state has conducted 5,034 COVID-19 tests to date.

Out of the 106 cases, state officials report seven have required hospitalizations. Those with mild symptoms are encouraged by the health department to recover at home in isolation to reduce the chance of spreading the virus in the community.

Queens Emergency Room medical equipment.
Only seven COVID-19 patients in Hawaii have required hospitalization to date. Cory Lum/Civil Beat

“Three of the cases we’ve seen have had no travel history or exposure,” said DOH Director Bruce Anderson at a press conference on Thursday. “We’ve only heard about these over the last 24 hours, but it’s the first sign we’ve seen that there is some localized community transmission occurring.”

Anderson did not specify a neighborhood of residence for the cases believed not to be tied to travel.

As of Thursday, state laboratories had conducted 387 coronavirus tests. Its randomized surveillance of specimens throughout the community have not resulted in any COVID-19 cases.

Private laboratories have conducted most of the testing in Hawaii, several thousand to date, but still rely on sister laboratory partnerships on the mainland. Testing results can take as many as two weeks due to collection and shipment of samples.

Anderson said private laboratories in Hawaii will eventually have the capability to test on-island, but did not specify when.

There have been no Hawaii deaths connected to COVID-19. Earlier this week, Hawaii Department of Health officials said the first reported death had been in error.

Nationwide, the U.S. reached a sober milestone: more than 1,000 deaths.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has assessed the Hawaii Convention Center and The Neal S. Blaisdell Center as possible facilities to refurbish into clinical settings if the need arises.

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