LIHU‘E — The state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported seven new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.
Thursday’s cases are all adult residents. The source of infection for six of the cases is mainland-travel-related. The seventh case is considered community-acquired and is a close contact of a previously-announced case. All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
“We are seeing a high number of cases in residents returning from mainland travel. If you have to travel, we respectfully request that you get tested three to five days after your return,” said Dr. Janet Berreman, DOH Kaua‘i district health officer.
”Testing is free at Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. As a reminder, vaccination is the strongest tool we have to protect our community from the spread of COVID-19. Almost all of our cases are unvaccinated. If you haven’t already, consider getting vaccinated immediately,” she said.
Testing is also available through primary-care physicians, hospitals and urgent-care clinics. Contact those providers directly for more information. For more details, visit kauai.gov/covidtest.
Thursday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 34, with one hospitalized, and 452 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 408 confirmed locally, three probable, and 41 positive cases diagnosed elsewhere, as they received their pre-travel test results after arriving on island.
Anyone with symptoms or feeling sick should isolate immediately, stay away from household members, and not go out — including to work or school — unless seeking testing or health care. Those who have been vaccinated should still be tested if they believe they may have been exposed or if they feel sick.
Residents aged 18 and older are eligible for any vaccine available at pharmacies, hospitals and clinic locations. The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in those 12 and older, and appointments are available at hospitals and pharmacies for this age group.
Vaccination is free and widely available on the island, including on weekends and evenings and at pop-up vaccination opportunities at community sites. Many vaccination sites accept walk-ins. For details, visit kauai.gov/vaccine. Those who plan to travel can protect themselves and their families by being fully vaccinated before traveling.
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, visit hawaiicovid19.com.
