SANDY BAZ – County managing director

Maui recorded another confirmed COVID-19 case Tuesday, a resident who tested positive after returning home, Maui County Managing Director Sandy Baz said.

The individual isolated after coming home and got tested after starting to exhibit symptoms, Baz said at the county’s daily COVID-19 media briefing Tuesday.

“This is a great example of why we need to remain vigilant,” said Baz, filling in for Mayor Michael Victorino, who was meeting with Hawaii island Mayor Harry Kim on Tuesday. “We must take personal responsibility for the protection of others.”

The Maui case increased the county total to 123, including two cases on Molokai. (There are no cases on Lanai.)

There were a total of 18 new COVID-19 cases reported statewide at noon Tuesday by the state Department of Health. The state’s total cases rose to 917 (one case was removed from the total count from Honolulu during updating).

After a one-day reprieve Monday of only two new cases, the number of new cases rose again to double-digits with most coming from Honolulu with 15 new cases. Kauai also logged one new case, and one case was pending a residency determination.

Honolulu’s total is 652; Hawaii island’s, 87; and Kauai’s, 38. There also have been 16 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside of the state.

The Health Department said that of the 917 total cases, 12 percent have required hospitalization and 92 percent have been residents.

There have been 18 deaths — six on Maui and 12 on Oahu.

About the removal of the checkpoint along Hana Highway, Baz said the county had not heard back from Gov. David Ige about the county request for an extension to July 15. He said the checkpoints and travel restrictions will remain in place until the county hears back from the governor and will be up today.

Checkpoints along the highway near Twin Falls and at Piilani Highway in Ulupalakua have restricted vehicle access to East Maui residents, deliveries and emergency vehicles.

Ige made the call to limit travel to East Maui on March 16, which initially was voluntary and not enforced except by some East Maui residents. Checkpoints went up a few weeks later and have been manned by National Guardsmen and Maui police. Police said their involvement in the roadblocks ended at the end of May.

The state Department of Transportation said Thursday that it would be reopening the road to general traffic today. In a letter to the governor Monday, Victorino asked for a delay until July 15 to provide time to establish a plan to protect the remote community from COVID-19.

At a Zoom meeting Sunday, East Maui residents expressed concern about exposure to the virus in a community with limited health resources.

In other developments:

• The COVID-19 Call Center in the Office of the Mayor will be closed Friday and Saturday for the Fourth of July holiday. The center is normally open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The phone number is 270-7855. The call center is available to answer questions relating to COVID-19 in Maui County. Individuals willing to offer supplies, help and resources also are encouraged to call.

* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.