Starting with the Sept. 28 update, the Hawaii Department of Health will be including COVID-19 reinfections to the count. Reported cases are considered reinfections if the individual's case date is 90 days or more after the previous infection case date. HDOH recognizes that with the increased use of over-the-counter COVID-19 tests, the number of reinfections is likely an undercount.
The Sept. 28 update includes an additional 10,995 reinfection cases that reflect the earliest reported reinfection dating back to Sept. 2020. The reinfection breakdown is as follows: Oahu (7,747), Maui (1,638), Hawaii Island (1,073), Kauai (467), Molokai (26), Lanai (19) and out of state (25).
The HDOH notes that the addition of reinfection cases are only reflected in the total counts, not the seven-day daily averages.
With the reinfection numbers included, Hawaii reports 12,755 cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 355,959.
Seven new deaths were reported, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,686.
The bulk of the cases were reported on Oahu, with 9,092. Maui is next with 1,802, followed by Hawaii Island with 1,240, Kauai with 534, Molokai with 26, and Lanai with 19.
There were 42 cases from out-of-state visitors.
The statewide vaccination rate stands at 77.6%, with 1,103,259 residents having completed the "primary series"; 1,221,344 residents having had at least one dose; 644,732 residents having had the first booster; and 184,893 residents having had the second booster.
Honolulu County reported the highest vaccination rate among its residents at 89%. Maui County and Kauai County follow with 79% fully vaccinated, and Hawaii County is at 76%.