The Department of Health is monitoring a rise in COVID-19 cases in Hawaii.
DOH’s new respiratory disease tracker shows test positivity is just over 9% — a more than 6% jump from the first week of April.
Officials say that COVID-19 is currently at the yellow or medium activity level, meaning the virus is circulating at higher levels than expected based on historical trends. COVID-19 activity is also increasing.
Flu and RSV remain at green or low activity levels. Overall, acute respiratory disease is at the medium level.
DOH encourages getting vaccinated, staying home if you feel sick, and wearing a mask around others.
“The new Respiratory Disease dashboard provides, in one place, a summary of what is happening with several major respiratory viruses that contribute to respiratory disease in Hawai’i. This helps people make informed decisions about their health,” said State Epidemiologist Sarah Kemble.
“This week, the dashboard shows that COVID-19 test positivity is higher than expected and climbing and that ED (emergency department) visits and hospital admissions for COVID-19 are also going up. Based on this information, I would recommend checking whether you’ve had the 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine, and if not, or if you’re eligible for a repeat dose, go get it today.”
