Hawaii reports 13 new deaths from COVID; 455 infections amid continued stress in hospitals

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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii on Wednesday reported 13 new fatalities by COVID, bringing the number of deaths from the virus to 602.

The growing increase in deaths from the virus is occurring as hospitals across the state face an increase in COVID-infected patients.

Hospitals across the state say they are struggling to keep up, with some operating well above capacity limits.

Hilo Medical Center says it is working overcapacity with the facility’s 11 ICU beds and five other intensive care patients.

Hawaii Island Hospital currently treats 37 patients with COVID. Officials say nine of them are in the ICU and eight of them in fans. The other 28 patients are in the COVID unit designated by the hospital.

Similarly, at Maui Memorial Medical Center there are 26 COVID patients with six in the ICU. Officials said they use about three times more oxygen than normal, saying it is directly related to the increase in patients with COVID.

Officials say the state health system is expanding, as hospital officials are especially concerned about the increase in cases and hospitalizations after Labor Day weekend.

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Meanwhile, the state Department of Health reported 455 new infections.

Of the new cases:

  • 291 were in Oahu
  • 64 on the island of Hawaii
  • 51 on Maui
  • 37 a Kauai
  • three in Molokai
  • one in Lanai

There were also eight residents diagnosed out of state.

The new cases reported on Wednesday bring the total number of infections statewide since the pandemic began to 63,957. Over the past 14 days, the state Department of Health said there have been 10,911 new infections reported.

About 63.4% of the state’s population is fully vaccinated, while 71.6% have received at least one dose.

This story will be updated.

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