Tracking COVID-19 spread

Posted on Nov 25, 2020 in Capitol Connection, Featured

New DOH cluster reports highlight the everyday ways COVID-19 spreads.

To keep tabs on community spread, the state Department of Health (DOH) is releasing weekly COVID-19 cluster reports to highlight recent examples. One week’s report included clusters related to college students attending parties, co-workers who ate lunch together and a cluster at an O‘ahu school.

Dr. Emily Roberson, the DOH epidemiologist overseeing investigation and contact tracing, said that most of the new COVID-19 cases stem from residents, not travelers. “People really let their guards down around their friends and family,” she said. “The vast majority of transmission we’re seeing is within households or when people take breaks at work with their masks off.” She said one thing is clear: masks work. “They’re actually much more effective than we realized,” she added. To check updates on COVID-19 clusters, go to https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/what-you-should-know/current-situation-in-hawaii/#cluster.