LIHU‘E — The state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported three new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
All of the cases are adult residents: two are community-acquired infections and one is travel-related. All active cases are in isolation, and one case is hospitalized on O‘ahu. Close contacts are being identified, directed to quarantine and offered testing.
Thursday’s cases bring the number of on-island active cases to 15, with 148 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 129 confirmed locally, one probable, and 18 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on island.
“With ongoing evidence of community spread, our local efforts are extra important to contain and prevent the disease before we experience a rapid increase in cases as has been seen elsewhere,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami.
“The Department of Health staff are actively investigating and contact-tracing all cases, and we have adequate capacity,” said DOH Kaua‘i District Health Office Officer Dr. Janet Berreman.
“It is important that residents also continue to be attentive to daily precautions: wearing masks, keeping distance and avoiding large gatherings. And if you feel ill, consult with a health-care provider for testing.”
The mayor’s emergency rule 23 is in effect, which sets a temporary moratorium of the Safe Travels program. Under this rule, effective now, all incoming travelers, including mainland, inter-island residents and visitors, are under a 14-day, mandatory quarantine.
The county’s modified-quarantine program remains in place for critical-infrastructure workers, essential medical travelers or those with other special circumstances. To apply for a modified quarantine, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19 and click on the “modified quarantine request” button at the top of the page.
For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19.
For more information on the state’s COVID-19 cases or the state’s Safe Travels program, visit hawaiicovid19.com.
I saw lots of family parties at Lydgate Sunday with no masks and no social distancing. Community spread.
This is not a plague. This is a global economic reset and China is the forefront in this 5g crypto new world order. 5g can handle the data to make sure you are obedient slaves.
Um…community spread on Kauai began with travelers and tourists. Up until a few months ago, there was 0 community spread on Kauai. Not until the dynamic derpydogs Ige and Kawakami moronically decided to open up our island again to un-quarantined tourism did the infections spread into our community for the very first time during this pandemic. All those sick tourists walking around coughing on us – what did they expect would happen? Thanks Mayor!
Local family gatherings are spreading this virus. I’m seeing groups of 30-50 people at a time in my neighborhood with no masks, close contact, young and old. Denial isn’t going to make
this beast go away. Just the opposite…you’ll have it pounding on your door.
Thank you Mayor K,
Your plan is succeeding.
If we look to the metrics of “success” of the “safe travels” program perhaps we should consider this. Compare us with Maui which is still in the program.
Both Maui and Kauai have seen more cases since the October 15 reopening than they saw in the previous 7 months. If you look at the trajectory of “7 day average” of new cases per 100,00 population on the Hawaii Emergency Management website for the period of October to November 25, our numbers are almost identical and the trajectory the same.
Since November 25, Kauai’s 7 day average daily new cases are falling from 5 to 1.4. Muai, is now at 7.3 cases per 100,000 population and rising. Hawaii county is also sharply increasing.
Maui’s positivity rate is 1.5% and ours is 0.7%. The positivity rate is double Kauai’s
Maui has 22 or 22 ICU beds full. 100%. Kauai has 25% of our ICU beds occupied.
Do we really need to make it easier to get into the state? Push the testing one day earlier so people can wander around areas with high infection rates, then sit on a packed plane to get here? Earlier testing is not tweaking Safe Travels to improve it, it is weakening a useless program further. Any effective program requires a quarantine with a second test.
By every meaningful metric, Kauai is doing the right thing for the health of its island.
Now lets make sure we open in a science based manner to provide for the economy of the island.
Be kind to each other and take care of those in need.
Shut up Doug. Mind your own frickin business