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.
The crowded areas like beaches and shopping center are still using face mask. The lapse comes when they leave. To their cars or buses or walking off. That might do it. But it is only for a short time. The delta variant is interesting because it can hit anyone. Anywhere.
“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.”
What does ‘science’ say about the likelihood of your 8-year-old child being harmed by this virus? Protecting from what?
Superstition.
>> “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.”
Ushio is very ignorant. This vaccine does none of that. It simply makes the case of the disease more mild. It does not prevent transmission. It does not protect others, it does not protect you from getting the virus.
It is infuriating that people like Ushio and Dr. Janet Berreman continue to perpetuate pure ignorance about the vaccine and continue to share conjecture about the origins of these cases. They are not sharing any real data, just their uninformed opinion with an appeal to authority because of their credentials.
None of these new cases are in the hospital, there isn’t a need to worry. When states like Texas are fully open and are seeing cases decline, it makes it even more contrasting here as to level of ignorance.
Kal Yuga, while you are correct that the vaccination makes the virus milder, it does not protect 100%. You think cases are declining and we can all stop worrying and vaccinating because you have the answer. You are no better than any other person at passing on conjecture and misinformation.
The vaccine does mitigate the severity of illness and curtail the spread of the virus to an extent. My side effects from the vaccine were 1/10 as severe as the covid I had. I will get boosters and continue to encourage vaccination because some protection is better than none. I do not want it again, not in any variation!
The Delta variant is more contagious, multiplies faster in the host and is contagious earlier than the original covid-19. It is particularly dangerous for those who are not vaccinated as they will spread it sooner and more people ill will encourage the development of more variants.
I worry about the day a tourist goes home to find that our ‘safe’ Island has infected them with the Delta Covid … without tourists, we suffer economically.
The infections now are community spread – we are the danger!
We must get this under some control and work TOGETHER.
Let’s be real here. Why in the world did you go get vaccinated when you already had covid? Have you ever heard that the best form of immunity is the one your body built after having a sickness? You getting vaccinated therefore did nothing to “help you”. Please stop believing misinformation about covid. The survival rate is still over 99 percent. Let’s speak facts not what you are made to believe.
We aren’t going to ever avoid getting it unless we completely stop people from coming and going. I’m tired of the daily reporting. If we are reporting the mere handful of people getting it still, I want to start seeing updates of how many new cases of the flu and herpes we have daily. While we are at it, I’d also like a daily report of how many tourists we have landing and leaving.
Just type in Hawaii tourism authority and arrivals in to Hawai’i. On Google search. You’ll come up with several links to give you the answer to your question.