In the last four weeks, Lanai’s COVID-19 cases have gone from single digits to double digits each week amid an ongoing surge on the Pine Isle, a county official said.

Maui County Deputy Managing Director Josiah Nishita said on Friday during a Maui County Council meeting that Lanai has the highest seven-day average of daily new cases across the state and that the county was sending 7,500 COVID-19 test kits to the island.

The latest state Department of Health weekly COVID-19 report on May 4 said Lanai had 25 cases reported in the last week, after reporting seven new cases the week of April 27, three new cases the week of April 20 and nine new cases the week of April 13.

“Last week we reported 25 new cases on Lanai. It is likely the true number of cases is even higher. That is because so many people are testing at home and the results of home test are not counted in our data,” Brooks Baehr, a spokesman for the state Department of Health, said on Monday afternoon.

He added that the DOH has purchased a “significant amount of self-tests and point-of-care tests” that will be distributed statewide, and that thousands have gone to Lanai in recent days. Tests have been sent to Lanai Community Health Center, a pharmacy and home health care providers for seniors, as well as others.

Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang said that events in April that may have contributed to cases in Lanai include but are not limited to, Easter, a spring festival, a parent appreciation night and a softball tournament.

Pang said that as more people gather and fewer wear masks, there will be more clusters and cases will likely increase this summer though fall and winter.

“People can minimize risk by taking advantage of living in Hawaii where they can open windows, etc. for good ventilation and hold activities outdoors where there is more ventilation,” Pang said.

He added that in April, test kits were sent to Lanai, Molokai and Hana as well.

At Lanai Community Hospital, officials have seen a “slight increase” in the volume of COVID patients its emergency department but there are no “severe cases,” said spokesperson Tracy Dallarda of Maui Health, which operates the hospital.

Lanai High & Elementary School reported a total of 29 new cases from April 29 to Sunday, according to the state Department of Education’s website.

Out of all public schools in the state, Lanai had the third-highest percentage of cases to students and staff on campus, with 4.24 percent. (Under the DOE’s statistics, 1 percent is equivalent to one reported case out of 100 people.)

Waimea High School on Kauai had the highest rate at 10.12 percent, followed by Kalaheo High on Oahu with 4.44 percent, according to DOE statistics ending on Sunday.

Baehr said that Lanai is not the only place to see cases climb.

“We are concerned not only about COVID-19 on Lanai, but COVID-19 statewide,” he said. “COVID case counts have been rising for six consecutive weeks and we do not yet see signs the trend is slowing.”

Last week the state reported 4,249 cases after noting 3,370 cases the previous week. Maui County last week saw 502 new cases, up from 403 new cases the week prior.

Baehr said the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals continues to rise. There were only 11 people with COVID in Hawaii hospitals in late March.

But he said now the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency information hub shows 66 people with COVID-19 in island hospitals.

On Maui, Dallarda said Maui Memorial Medical Center has “seen a slight increase in admitted COVID patients,” but they were not at the ICU level of care and none were on a ventilator.

She said the hospital has been averaging between six to nine cases for the last several weeks, but on Monday it was up to 10 cases.

Dallarda said the cases are a “highly manageable number, but obviously we prefer zero and continue to recommend everyone get vaccinated and use common sense when deciding to wear a mask.”

Baehr said that Hawaii does have the tools to slow the spread of COVID. He encouraged people to get up to date on their vaccines and boosters, wear masks indoors, avoid large gatherings and stay home if they do not feel well.

“The pandemic isn’t over,” Baehr said. “We urge people to take precautions now to protect themselves, their families and their communities.”

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.