LIHU‘E — The state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office reported eight new cases of COVID-19 on Kaua‘i Thursday, all residents, one child and seven adults.
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 a previously announced case or are tied to an active cluster. The remaining two community-acquired cases have no known source of infection, including one whom investigators have been unable to reach after repeated attempts or who has refused to provide information.
Thursday’s cases bring the number of active cases to 66, with one hospitalized, and 2,523 cumulative cases.
Most reported cases are in residents who were infected in the community. Everyone, vaccinated or not, must follow Hawai‘i’s indoor mask requirements and gathering size limits, the DOH stressed.
Vaccination remains the most-important action all can take to slow and prevent the spread of disease in the community. Vaccinations are available to anyone 12 years of age or older and are free, safe and effective, the DOH said in a release.
Many vaccination sites accept walk-ins. Residents aged 18 and older are eligible for any vaccine available at pharmacies, hospitals and clinics.
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 Hoʽola Lahui Hawai‘i clinics in Waimea and Kapa‘a.
The vaccine van can be requested to visit a business, event or home by filling out the survey at surveymonkey.com/r/CBQCWY7 or calling the Kaua‘i District Health Office at 808-241-3495.
For details on the vaccination sites, visit kauai.gov/vaccine.
Free testing is available at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
A mobile testing van is available for walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center on Fridays, Hanalei Neighborhood Center on Saturdays and the Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex in Kapa‘a on Sundays.
Testing performed at the convention hall and through the mobile testing van is rapid PCR. 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., on Kolopa Street near the Puhi Safeway.
Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.
For an appointment, register online at PreventCOVIDHI.com or call 808-635-4968.
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.
