LIHU‘E — Four COVID-related deaths have occurred in the past four weeks, despite a declining local case rate.
A non-hospitalized female resident in her 100s is the latest fatality on Kaua‘i.
Mayor Derek Kawakami announced her passing on Thursday, during his weekly briefing.
“Our condolences go out to her family and friends,” he said.
It was the fourth consecutive week in which officials reported a COVID-related death of a Kaua‘i elder.
Other victims announced in June included one man and two women, all of whom were in their 80s or 90s and hospitalized.
Kaua‘i also saw the death of a hospitalized 90-year-old man in mid-May and the death of a hospitalized 70-year-old man in late April.
The Kaua‘i County case count continues to slip, but remains elevated.
Office of the Mayor intern
Bradley Pratt shared the latest numbers Thursday.
“Kaua‘i’s seven-day average is now 46 cases a day, down from 57 last week and 65 the week before,” Pratt said.
“These numbers don’t include home tests, so this is only a portion of the cases. But the downward trend is good news.”
The statewide average is also dropping. It now stands at 832 new cases per day, down about 15% from last week, according to Pratt.
Kaua‘i’s average test positivity rate is 23%, higher than the statewide average of 17%.
Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency data showed 12 local COVID-related hospitalizations Thursday. No intensive-care unit beds or ventilators were in use by COVID-19 patients.
“Thankfully, our hospitals and health-care system are doing an excellent job of managing cases and have adequate capacity,” Kawakami said.
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Scott Yunker, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or syunker@thegardenisland.com.
