Two presumptive positive coronavirus cases were identified Friday afternoon at Kona Community Hospital, COVID-19 Task Force chief Lt. Gov. Josh Green said.
Both cases involve travelers, the practicing physician said, noting that officials were completing the verification process.
“They are not community spread, but they are cases,” said Green, who represented West Hawaii in the state Senate from 2009 to 2018 and state House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009.
If verified positive, the two cases will be added to the list, which as of the Health Department’s update on Friday stood at 37, up from 26 on Thursday.
Kona Community Hospital spokeswoman Judy Donovan confirmed the two presumptive positive cases in Kona, but said she couldn’t comment further.
Prior to the presumptive positive cases at Kona Community Hospital, the Big Island had only one confirmed case thus far.
Green was on island Friday visiting Kona Community Hospital and Hilo Medical Center to assess capacity and operations as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Check out Saturday’s edition of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald for a fully story.