Two new cases of COVID-19 cases were reported in Hawaii by the Department of Health Saturday, with one on Oahu and one on the Big Island.

This continues the current trend in Hawaii where the number of new cases has stayed relatively flat for the last month. The Department of Health has reported no more than four new cases per day for several weeks.

The total number of people who have tested positive for the virus since early March is now 639. DOH said Saturday it removed one previously reported Big Island case because of “updated information.”

Those low numbers have prompted the state and counties to gradually allow the reopening of retail stores and many other businesses.

 

Ala Moana Center and other shopping centers on Oahu opened Friday. At Ala Moana shoppers were asked to social distance and wear face masks. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2020

On Friday, most of the retail stores reopened at Ala Moana Center, with restrictions such as limiting the number of customers allowed inside. By contrast, many of the owners of shops in Chinatown kept their businesses shuttered.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell also reopened beaches, as well as most playing fields and courts.

But restraints on travel remain. Gov. David Ige announced plans to extend the 14-day travel quarantine for visitors arriving in Hawaii and on inter-island travel through the end of June.

About 90% of people diagnosed with COVID-19 have been released from isolation after it was determined they no longer have the virus — 565 people to date — and most of those diagnosed have not needed hospitalization.

There have been 17 deaths of coronavirus patients in Hawaii — 11 on Oahu and five on Maui.

Since early March, when the first cases in Hawaii were reported, there have been 415 people diagnosed with the virus on Oahu. Another 117 people tested positive in Maui County, 76 on Hawaii island, and 21 in Kauai County, according to the Department of Health.

Another 10 Hawaii residents were diagnosed out of state.

DOH reported Saturday that that there was one more person hospitalized with COVID-19. There are 82 patients total who have required hospitalization, including some on the mainland.

The Department of Health does not provide numbers on how many people are currently hospitalized and how many have been discharged.

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