The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has moved Hawaii from the low to medium COVID risk classification.

The move from the green, low-risk tier, to the yellow, medium-risk category, is based on increasing hospital admissions for COVID-19.

Honolulu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii counties had been classified "low-risk" or green for several weeks.

"CDC looks at the combination of three metrics — new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days — to determine the COVID-19 community level," the agency said on its website.

As of Wednesday, Hawaii reported 3,370 more cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 248,405. In the past fortnight, 4,488 cases were reported.

Eleven deaths were reported, bringing the cumulative statewide total to 1,418.

According to the CDC:

  • If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your health care provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions
  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
  • Get tested if you have symptoms