Hawaii health officials urge vigilance as COVID cases rise again

The number of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii is rising again, prompting a message of vigilance from health officials.

The Hawaii Department of Health today reported the statewide test positivity rate — or percentage of all tests that are positive — at 12.4% as of Saturday, up from 10.9% the previous week. DOH said the virus is circulating at higher levels than expected, based on historic trends.

DOH noted the 7-day average of new cases also rose on all islands over the last month.

The trend is in line with a rising number of COVID cases across more than half of the U.S., including in more than 25 states — with some experts dubbing it a summer wave. Hawaii is one of 10 states where COVID cases are definitely growing, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with Texas, Iowa, and Virginia, among others.

The latest CDC models show two new variants growing dominant in the U.S., including NB.1.8.1, nicknamed Nimbus, widely reported to cause “razor blade throat” symptoms, and XFG, nicknamed Stratus.

The World Health Organization is monitoring both, which experts said have not been shown to be more deadly than previous ones. Both are considered descendants of omicron.

“The increase reminds us that COVID-19 remains a health concern in the community,” state health officials in a news release. “At the moment, COVID-19 is outpacing flu and RSV in test positivity, emergency room visits and hospital admissions. The public is reminded to take reasonable precautions to avoid getting sick. Consult your doctor about vaccinations for yourself and your family.”

DOH said the 2024-2025 COVID vaccine is recommended for higher-risk populations including children ages 6 months to 2 years old; those ages 2 to 64 who are immuno-compromised; adults ages 65 and older; pregnant women; and health care workers.

Health officials also recommend staying home when sick, covering one’s cough, and wearing a well-fitted mask while infected or recovering from COVID or when indoors with other people.

Tim Brown, an infectious diseases expert who continues tracking COVID trends, noted cases on Oahu rose from 25 a day last week to 40 a day this week. Emergency department visits for COVID in Hawaii have also been on the rise, and wastewater concentration levels for COVID have been “very high.”

DOH is updating its COVID-19 dashboard, which resulted in a gap in data viewable to the public over the past few weeks. The weekly average of COVID patients hospitalized, at 20, has not been updated since June 11.

DOH says additional features to its COVID dashboard are coming soon.