AP: COVID-19 surge pummels Hawaii and its native population
Hawaii was once seen as a beacon of safety during the pandemic because of stringent travel and quarantine restrictions and overall vaccine acceptance that made it one of the most inoculated states in the country. But the highly contagious delta variant exploited weaknesses as residents let down their guard and attended family gatherings after months of restrictions and vaccine hesitancy lingered in some Hawaiian communities.
Today’s numbers reportedly mark the highest single-day totals of COVID cases and deaths in Hawaii.