LIHU‘E — Mayor Derek Kawakami announced that the county, in partnership with the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office, is offering free COVID-19 testing weekdays in Lihu‘e for anyone without symptoms.
Testing is available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. No appointments are necessary, and results are provided the same day.
“This provides peace of mind for our community members,” Kawakami said. “If you are planning to visit an elderly family member you can get tested in the morning and get results that afternoon. Tourism-industry workers or others exposed to travelers are also encouraged to get tested. This opportunity is open to everyone — no specific reason or doctor’s order is needed.
“While these tests cannot be used for the state’s Safe Travels program for travel to Maui or Hawai‘i Island, they can be used by Kaua‘i resort bubble guests as the post-travel test needed to be released from the bubble. This will make it more affordable for returning residents and visitors to participate in the resort bubble program,” he sid.
Anyone sick with symptoms of COVID-19 should not come to the testing center. Call primary-care provider for an evaluation. Inform the medical center ahead of arrival so they can take appropriate precautions. Anyone without a doctor may call the Wilcox Virtual Clinic at 462-5430, option 3.
These tests cannot be used for Safe Travels interisland travel-quarantine exemptions.
Those traveling to Maui County or Hawai‘i County must get a pre-travel test from a state trusted testing partner lab to be eligible for a state-approved quarantine exemption.
Residents and visitors staying in a resort bubble hotel with an approved enhanced movement quarantine can use this test as their post-travel test.
Travelers from out of state now have the option of a shortened, three-day quarantine by participating in the resort bubble post-travel testing program.
For more information on the resort bubble program, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19 and click on the “Enhanced Movement Quarantine” button. Travelers currently in a resort bubble should refer to their property for more information and transportation options.
For general information on COVID-19 on Kaua‘i, see kauai.gov/COVID-19.
