15 new COVID-19 cases reported Thursday on the Big Island

Hawaii Island’s COVID-19 case count increased by 15 Thursday, bringing the island’s total case count to 1,763.

The new Hawaii Island cases were among 142 new cases reported throughout the state by the Department of Health, bringing the state’s total case tally to 19,731. Oahu reported 114 new cases while Maui County reported eight. Four residents were diagnosed outside the state.

Hawaii County has a 1.7% test positivity rate, under the statewide rate of 2.5%.

Statewide, 54 people were hospitalized Thursday, including three on Hawaii Island. Two new coronavirus-related deaths also were reported by the state Thursday — one on Oahu and the other on Hawaii Island.

Hawaii County Civil Defense reported a new death Thursday of a Hawaii Island resident who died on Oahu, bringing the island’s total number of coronavirus-related fatalities to 50. The state has yet to confirm six of the deaths reported to date on Hawaii Island.