LIHU‘E — The state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office announced 42 new COVID-19 cases on Friday.
Friday’s cases are all residents — 14 children and 28 are adults.
One of the cases is related to mainland travel. The remaining 41 cases are considered community-acquired. Thirty-three of the community-acquired infections are close contacts of previously announced cases or are tied to active clusters. The remaining eight community-acquired cases have no known source of infection, including two cases whom investigators have been unable to reach after repeated attempts or who have refused to provide information.
Active cases are directed to isolate, and close contacts are being identified, offered testing and directed to quarantine. Investigations are ongoing.
Friday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 310, with four hospitalized, and 1,805 cumulative cases.
Links to home-isolation/quarantine guidelines from DOH: hawaiicovid19.com/testing-isolation-quarantine/; hawaiicovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Summary-Guidance-for-COVID-19-Cases-and-Contacts.pdf; health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/files/2020/04/What-To-Do-If-You-Have-Been-Tested-For-COVID19_040120.pdf.
Vaccination remains the most important action to take to slow and prevent the spread of disease in the community, according to a county press release.
Vaccinations are widely available to anyone 12 years of age or older and are free, safe and effective, according to the release.
Many vaccination sites accept walk-ins. Residents aged 18 and older are eligible for any vaccine available at pharmacy, hospital and clinic locations. The Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for use in those 12 years of age and older, and is available at Wilcox Medical Center, Lihu‘e Longs, Puhi Safeway, Kaiser Permanente Lihu‘e Clinic, and Ho‘ola Lahui clinics in Waimea and Kapa‘a.
The vaccine van can be requested to come to businesses, events or homes by request at surveymonkey.com/r/CBQCWY7 or calling the Kaua‘i District Health Office at 808-241-3495.
The pop-up clinic and hospital van are open to everyone 12 and older. For details on the 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. To avoid long wait times, staff will distribute a limited number of tickets with a specific time to return for the test.
A van offers free testing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center Wednesdays, Kilauea Neighborhood Center Thursdays, Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Fridays, Hanalei Neighborhood Center Saturdays and the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapa‘a Sundays. At these sites, same-day results are sent via email.
Free drive-thru testing is available daily at Lihu‘e Pharmacy Group from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment, register online at preventcovidhi.com or call 808-635-4968. Results are expected to be provided the same day via email.
Testing is also available through primary-care physicians, hospitals and urgent-care clinics.
For more details, visit kauai.gov/covidtest.
For more information on the county’s COVID-19 response, visit kauai.gov/COVID-19.
