LIHU‘E — Friday, the state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported 13 cases of COVID-19 on the island.
Of these cases, 12 are residents and the other is a visitor. The majority, 10, are adults, and the rest children.
Five of the cases are related to mainland travel. The remaining eight cases are considered community-acquired. Four of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases. The other four have no known source of infection, according to the county. This brings the county’s current active case count to 60.
Kaua‘i District Health Officer Dr. Janet Berreman pointed to recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcements as guidance.
“First, evidence continues to mount that vaccination provides strong protection from severe disease, hospitalization and death. These are excellent reasons to get vaccinated. Second, there is now evidence that even those who are fully vaccinated can spread COVID-19 to others if they become infected,” Berreman said.
Statewide, the DOH reported 622 new COVID-19 cases Friday, the highest reported case count the state has seen. This is partially due to a lab-reporting delay this week. The state’s previous highest infection count in a single day was 355, reported in August of last year.
In a press conference Friday, DOH Director Dr. Libby Char said that about 25% of the new cases reported have been in children.
Despite the state reaching a 60% fully vaccinated rate amongst residents, Berreman recommended all to continue social-distancing practices.
“This is a reminder that we all need to continue to be careful: wear masks indoors — as is mandated statewide in Hawai‘i — and get tested after travel or after close contact with someone with COVID 19. Fortunately, testing and vaccination are widely available for free on Kaua‘i,” Berreman said.
