CORRECTION: Kauai County has 12 COVID-19 cases. A previous story erroneously listed Hawaii County twice, including with the Kauai County total. The Tribune-Herald regrets the error.
Hawaii has its first death from the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to the state Department of Health.
The death occurred on Oahu, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell confirmed in a news conference this afternoon.
“I do not have the age or any information about the individual who passed away very suddenly,” Caldwell said. “I think part of it is about … medical privacy. I think more information may be released by the Department of Health at the appropriate time.
“We need to be respectful of those privacy rights and the family at this time. Our hearts go out to the family. It’s a sad day for that family and I hope we don’t have more sad days, so I say again, follow the orders. Stay at home. Work at home. Use common sense (and) protect each other. “
As of noon today, 224 cases are reported statewide, an increase of 20 cases since Monday.
The bulk of the total cases are in the City and County of Honolulu, 157, and 18 of the newly reported cases are there. Maui County has the second most, with 25. Hawaii County has 15 cases and Kauai County 12.
The location of 13 of those cases, including two of the new ones, have yet to be released by authorities.
Two Hawaii residents have been diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 outside of Hawaii, DOH reports.
The DOH reports that 13 cases, so far, have required hospitalization, and 58 individuals have been released from isolation.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
