LIHU‘E — The state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. All five cases are in isolation and their close contacts are being identified, directed to quarantine and offered testing.
Three of the cases are Kaua‘i residents, and two are visitors.
“It is deeply concerning that we have more confirmed cases today than any day since June,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami.
“At least one of these cases is likely from community transmission, which means that the virus is spreading on our island again. This is a critical reminder that we cannot let our guard down. Now is the time to be extra careful and wear our masks, socially distance, avoid large gatherings and stay home if we’re feeling sick.”
The last time the single-day case count was this high was on June 20, when Kaua‘i reported seven cases in one day — the highest single daily count since the beginning of the pandemic.
Two of Thursday’s cases are classified as travel-related, and the other three cases are under investigation at this time. One of the travelers in Thursday’s count took a Safe Travels pre-travel test before traveling to Kaua‘i, and results came back positive after the traveler arrived on-island.
“Travel poses a risk to our community, and we urge everyone to travel only when necessary,” said Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman.
“If you do travel off-island, even if you receive a quarantine exemption with a pre-travel test, please minimize your contact with others when you return, and take a voluntary post-arrival test more than 72 hours after you return. And always wear your mask, which protects you and your community by reducing the spread of the infection.”
Kaua‘i now has 16 active cases, including two hospitalized, five in an isolation facility, and nine in home isolation. In addition, 34 close contacts are in DOH-directed quarantine, with four of those in a quarantine facility. The number of close contacts in quarantine is expected to increase as investigation of Thursday’s cases continues.
Kaua‘i’s cumulative case total is now 86. Of those, 77 are confirmed, one is probable, and eight are confirmed positive tests performed out-of-state/off-island but reported after arrival/return to Kaua‘i.
For more information on the state’s COVID-19 cases or the state’s Safe Travels program, visit hawaiicovid19.com.
For more information on the county’s voluntary post-travel testing program, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19. For more information on the county’s new surge-testing program, visit kauai.gov/test.
