Two new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed Tuesday in Maui County, including the first diagnosis of a Lanai resident.

The Lanai resident was exposed on Maui and “will be remaining on Maui Island for the interim,” state Department of Health officials said in its daily online report. The patient had been transported from Lanai to Maui in early March for treatment unrelated to COVID-19. The patient’s first test for the coronavirus came back negative, but a more recent test confirmed a COVID-19 diagnosis, officials said.

Of the 609 people in Hawaii verified to be infected with the virus to date, 505 of them have recovered to be released from isolation. Half of the cases to date have been travel-associated. Another 234 are community-associated, and the origin of the remaining 57 cases have not yet been determined.

As of Tuesday, 69 people were hospitalized across the state.

Sixteen people have died because of coronavirus-related complications, according to health officials. Eleven of the COVID-19 related deaths have occurred on Oahu. Another five have occurred on Maui.

One more COVID-19 related hospitalization was reported on Maui, taking the total number of people hospitalized to 69 patients across the state.

A cluster of infections that began at Maui Memorial Medical Center involve 38 staff and 20 patients who are being monitored by DOH. On Monday, a new infection had been confirmed in Maui Medical Group employee who worked as a hospitalist at MMMC.

“The case is under investigation and the cause of infection is still being determined,” the Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center newsletter stated.
More than 300 people have been tested to see if they have been exposed to the virus.

Maui’s documented COVID-19 patient count has reached 115 to date, 80 of whom have recovered, and 14 of whom remain in the hospital.

On Oahu, 53 people remain hospitalized for coronavirus-related issues. Of the 396 people diagnosed on Oahu to date, 354 have recovered and been released from isolation, the department reports.

One person in Kauai County remains hospitalized — the person appears to be the only active case on Kauai, as 20 of the 21 diagnosed on the island have reportedly recovered, according to the department.

In Hawaii County, one person continues to be hospitalized. No new recoveries were reported — 51 patients of the 70 people diagnosed with COVID-19 to date have recovered on the Big Island.

The virus has had a significant impact on Hawaii’s economy, according to a survey by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. More than 220,000 workers are no longer on the job.

The hotel retail, recreation and arts and entertainment industries saw an 80% decline in full time employment. The food service industry reported 36,000 jobs have been lost.