More younger people on the Big Island are testing positive for COVID-19, according to Dr. Kaohimanu Dang Akiona, Hawaii County medical director for Premier Medical Group, who has been leading community testing efforts on the island.
Recent test results are “skewing younger this time around,” she said Tuesday.
For example, Akiona said, 80% of positive test results she received Monday were children.
Premier Medical ramped up testing efforts amid a surge of cases on the Big Island.
According to Akiona, 341 people were tested Aug. 24 and 377 were tested Aug. 27 in Keaukaha, which resulted in at least 13 and 11 positive cases, respectively, although about 150 results were still outstanding as of Tuesday.
About 750 more were tested Saturday in Hilo and Waikoloa, and another 350 were tested Sunday in Hilo.
While those results are still pending, Akiona said so far about 20 positive COVID-19 cases, mostly from Hilo, have been identified.
Premier Medical has been effective in its testing because of its work with community organizations, she said.
“That’s been our success — that we have people from the community or invested in the community giving us feedback in real time.”
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.