LIHU‘E — The state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported eight new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.
Saturday’s cases are all residents, and include seven adults and one child. Three of the cases are related to travel — two mainland and one interisland. The remaining five cases are considered community-acquired. Three of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases. The other two have no known source of infection. One of the cases was tested elsewhere and did not receive a positive result until after their return to Kaua‘i.
All active cases are in isolation, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
Today’s cases bring the number of active cases to 56, with two hospitalized, and 608 cumulative cases. Kaua‘i’s cumulative case count includes 560 confirmed locally, three probable, and 45 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 getting health care. Those who have been vaccinated should still be tested if they believe they may have been exposed, or if they feel sick.
The Kaua‘i District Health Office team continues to investigate thoroughly every case reported on Kaua‘i.
The staff interviews everyone who tests positive to get information about how they may have become infected and who they may have exposed during their infectious period.
Each person who is identified as a close contact is called by a contact tracer and notified of their exposure. They are instructed to monitor for symptoms, and are offered testing.
All unvaccinated close contacts are instructed to quarantine. The KDHO staff is in daily contact with cases and close contacts for the duration of their isolation or quarantine periods. This is a labor-intensive-but-effective public-health approach to disease control, and the DOH said it is fortunate to have been able to continue robust case investigation and contact tracing.
Many cases are in residents who have traveled. Anyone planning a trip is urged to be vaccinated before leaving. Whether vaccinated or not, the DOH recommends following Hawai‘i’s prudent rules, wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings and getting tested three to five days after return to Kaua‘i.
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. Residents aged 18 and older are eligible for any vaccine available at pharmacy, hospitals and clinics.
The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in those 12 years and older, and are currently available at Wilcox Medical Center, Lihu‘e Longs and Puhi Safeway. For details on vaccination sites, visit kauai.gov/vaccine.
Free testing is available at the Lihu‘e Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additionally, a mobile testing van is available for free walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center on Wednesdays, Kilauea Neighborhood Center on Thursdays, Kalaheo Neighborhood Center on Fridays, Hanalei Neighborhood Center on Saturdays and Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center on Sundays.
Testing performed at the convention hall and through the mobile testing van is rapid PCR. Same-day results are sent via email.
For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19.
