LIHU‘E — Officials are pointing to the highly-transmittable delta variant, holiday weekend gatherings and lack of social distancing to a spike in COVID-19 infections on island.
“We have seen an increase in cases on Kaua‘i, likely due to the delta variant, gatherings around the 4th of July weekend, and decreased attention to wearing masks and distancing,” Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio said Monday during the county’s COVID-19 briefing.
Monday, the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported four new COVID-19 cases, all in residents. These cases involved three adults and one child.
“The source of infection for one of the cases is mainland travel, and the remaining three are community-acquired,” Ushio said. “Only one of today’s community-acquired cases is a close contact of a previously-announced case. The other two have no known source of infection.”
One Kaua‘i resident is currently hospitalized with COVID-19, according to the county.
”Over the weekend, we announced 13 new cases, and in the past week, a total of 36 cases, plus four more today,” KDHO Public Health Preparedness Planner Lauren Guest said.
“Most of the cases are in residents, most of them are from community spread, and most of them are in unvaccinated individuals. Some of the cases are close contacts of previously-announced cases, and others have no known source of infection.”
Guest called this “concerning.”
“It means that COVID-19 is spreading more widely in our community, as it is statewide,” Guest said.
The state recently hit a 58% fully-vaccinated population, just short of the 60% fully-vaccinated goals the state projected to hit July 8. When the state and county reach 70% fully-vaccinated, travel and social-gathering restrictions will be lifted, and the state’s Safe Travels program will end.
The county is hosting various vaccine clinics, some with incentives, throughout the month:
• Saturday, July 17, at the Kaumakani Community Hall from 8 to 10 a.m., and Anaina Hou Community Park farmers’ market in Kilauea from 9 to 11 a.m.;
• Friday, July 23, at the Kaua‘i Humane Society shelter near Puhi from 4 to 6 p.m.;
• Saturday, July 24, at Rob’s Good Times Grill in the Rice Shopping Center on Rice Street in Lihu‘e, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The first 50 who register will receive $10 gift certificates.
“My wife and I are vaccinated, and my two kids who are eligible, age 12 and older, are vaccinated,” Ushio added. “I am happy to know we are all protected from this deadly disease. And by our being vaccinated, I am happy to know that we are also protecting our 8-year-old child, who is too young to be vaccinated at this time.”
•••
Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
