KAPA‘A — When the coronavirus surge testing started Sunday at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex, there were more than 400 registrations logged onto the doineedacovid19test.com website.
This total compares with the 160 registrations that were recorded last week when the surge testing program started at Vidinha Stadium.
People wishing to get a free COVID-19 test could, however, register at the site that rotates between Vidinha Stadium, the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex and Hanapepe Stadium, every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at least through the end of the year.
The free, COVID-19-surge-testing program offers residents, especially those involved with the hospitality industry and the uninsured, an opportunity to get tested for the novel coronavirus.
Hospitality staff includes individuals of all ages working at hotels, restaurants or bars, tour companies, transportation companies and other high-visitor areas. Tests are also available to those with poor access to COVID-19 testing, including those who are underinsured or uninsured.
The County of Kaua‘i, in
partnership with the state Department of Health, is providing the free COVID-19 testing. This program is part of the public-private partnership announced on March 13, where eTrueNorth is working with the federal, state and local officials and pharmacy and lab partners to open testing sites.
An official with the stte Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office said these tests are not part of the state’s pre-travel program and cannot be used for quarantine exemptions.
For more information on the pre-travel testing, visit hawaiicovid19.com/travel, and for post-travel testing, visit kauai.gov/visitorposttest, or kauai.gov/residentpost test.
The next surge testing will take place Sunday, Nov. 22, at Hanapepe Stadium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To register for the free COVID-19 test, visit doineedacovid19test.com.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
