COVID kills 17 over 7-day period

Two new deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Hawaii County this week, both men over the age of 80.

Neither of the men were hospitalized, but both were noted to have an underlying condition.

Statewide, the Department of Health reported 17 deaths over the last seven-day period, the highest death toll since July 3, 2022.

According to the DOH, it reports deaths only when it is provided with an official cause of death, which in some cases can take weeks or even months to determine.

The latest variant report released Tuesday shows that while Omicron BQ.1.1 remains the dominant strain in Hawaii County, XBB.1.1 is continuing to rise, jumping from 18% of total cases in the last report, to 22% this week.

Statewide, the presence of XBB.1.5 nearly doubled since the last report, rising from 13% of all COVID cases, to 25% this week.