В Гавайях снова растет число зараженных COVID-19: госпитализации и вспышка в больнице

Hawaii’s COVID positivity rates are rising again The average positivity rates for COVID-19 are ticking up in Hawaii once again after a nearly year-long lull. On Wednesday, the Hawaii Department of Health reported an average positivity rate of 9.0% statewide, with a weekly average of 18 cases per day on its COVID dashboard. In some counties, rates were higher, at 13.3% for Kauai and 10.0% for Honolulu. The number of COVID patients hospitalized, which had remained low for an extended period, has now risen to a weekly average of 24 per day, with an upward curve in new admissions in recent days. The dashboard reports a weekly average of two COVID patients per day were admitted to ICU. Approximately 35 long-term patients at Honoka‘a Hospital, meanwhile, tested positive after a COVID-19 outbreak that began in mid-August, along with 17 staff. Don't miss out on what's happening! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE! There have been no serious illnesses, according to spokesperson Elena Cabatu, and only about five residents remain that are still testing positive. The hospital, part of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., is following protocols from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has reported the outbreak to DOH. The CDC, meanwhile, ranked Hawaii’s wastewater viral activity level as high, based on data from 10 sites from Aug. 16 to 22. Infectious disease experts recommend getting the 2026-27 vaccine targeting the latest XFG variants, which are a hybrid of two omicron subvariants. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved COVID vaccines by Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax-Sanofi after an advisory panel recommended shots aimed at the dominant XFG variant, Reuters reported. As part of the West Coast Health Alliance, DOH recommends COVID-19 vaccines for all residents six months and older. DOH said it especially recommends COVID vaccines for those who have never been vaccinated against the coronavirus as well as for healthcare workers with increased occupational risks. DOH also recommends COVID vaccines for infants ages 6 to 23 months old; adults over 65; and residents of long-term care facilities or those with household contacts at high risk for severe COVID-19.