The University of Hawaiʻi returned to an indoor mask requirement Wednesday across its 10-campus system amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the islands. The indoor mask rule will be re-evaluated when COVID-19 transmission declines.
Surges in COVID-19 cases are causing disruptions in many parts of the U.S., but as the school year wraps up and Americans prepare for their summer vacations, many people have returned to their pre-pandemic routines.
Nearly 9,200 positive cases have been reported over the last 14 days, not including at-home tests. That means COVID-19 cases in Hawaiʻi have gone up for the seventh week in a row.
State officials are urging caution during the upcoming graduation season as coronavirus case counts rise. Officials also said public school students will still be required to wear masks while indoors for summer classes and related activities.
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health Hawaiʻi (DOH) reported 4 new deaths related to COVID-19 and 229 new infections on Saturday. The total number of deaths stands at 1,334.